Simulation of Red Blood Cell Mechanical Behavior in Optical Tweezers Experiment Based on a Particle Method

Optical tweezers provide an accurate measurement technique for evaluating mechanical properties of the living cells and many experimental studies have been done to understand the behavior of cells due to external forces. Numerical studies such as finite element methods have been used in order to simulate mechanical behavior of the Red Blood Cells (RBCs). Recent studies have shown that the particle methods are useful tools to simulate the mechanical behavior of living cells. Since in microscopic scales, using discrete models are preferred than continuum methods, a particle-based method is used to simulate the deformation of RBC which is stretched by optical tweezers. The cytoplasm of RBC is modeled as a fluid and cell membrane is replaced by a set of discrete particles connected by springs. The results are comparable with previous observations of RBC optical tweezers experiments. It was observed that RBC viscoelastic characteristics are mainly associated with the cytoplasm fluidic properties. In order to understand the behavior and function of living red blood cells, this significant developed model could be implemented to RBC interaction within micocapillaries and constricted zones in blood flow.