3D Simulation of Rolling and Deformation of Circulating Cells

 Adhering to a Wall under Flows

Speaker: Quan Jin

Advisor: Dr. P.Singh

 Abstract

The motion of a deformable leukocyte through a capillary or blood vessel is studied numerically. Under certain physiological conditions (flow rate, etc.), the cell begins to adhere to the endothelium, and eventually rolls, deforms and extravasates through the endothelium. A model of cell deformation based on the embedded domain method in 3D is used to study this phenomenon. The model allows to track the position of the cell membrane and includes attraction forces due to a wall. Numerical results are given for the case of a cell rolling close to the wall. The model proposed here can be used to relate the adhesion forces with the cell rolling velocity. It can be improved further by using a more complex interface and inner fluid. Finally, it could be helpful for predicting cell deformation during spreading or transmigration.