Initial stages of thrombus formation

Combining experimental imaging with flow and structural simulations

Problem

Early thrombus growth depends on local shear and transport, but aggregate microstructure is often simplified away in simulations. I investigated whether image-derived aggregate geometry and density significantly change local hemodynamic predictions.

Approach

  • Reconstruct aggregate outline and internal density from microscopy experiments.
  • Model aggregates as porous structures with permeability informed by microstructure.
  • Simulate flow and transport under multiple imposed wall shear rates.
  • Quantify shear, elongation, kinetic force, and local Péclet behavior inside and around aggregates.

Key finding

Both shear rate and aggregate microstructure strongly affected local transport and mechanical loading. Transition zones between shell and core showed pronounced force signatures relevant to structural interpretation.

Why it matters

Including experimentally informed microstructure improves mechanistic understanding of how flow shapes thrombus initiation and evolution.

Outputs

  • Publication details are listed in the References section below.
  • Representative reconstruction and simulation visuals are included on this page.

References

2023

  1. Image-based Flow Simulation of Platelet Aggregates under Different Shear Rates
    Yue Hao, Gábor Závodszky, Claudia Tersteeg, and 2 more authors
    PLOS Computational Biology, 2023