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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 36: Statistical Physics of Biological Systems IV (joint session BP/DY)
BP 36.7: Vortrag
Freitag, 13. März 2026, 11:30–11:45, BAR/SCHÖ
Band pattern formation of erythrocytes in density gradients is due to competing aggregation and net buoyancy — •Felix Maurer1, Camila Romero1, Nikolas Lerch1, Thomas John1, Lars Kaestner1,2, Christian Wagner1,3, and Alexis Darras1,4 — 1Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany — 2Department of Theoretical Medicine and Biosciences, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany — 3Physics and Materials Science Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg — 4School of Physics, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
Centrifugation of biological matter in density gradient solutions is a standard method for separating cell types or components. It is also used to separate RBCs by age, as they lose water and become denser over their lifespan. When the density gradient is prepared with Percoll, discrete bands of RBCs are systematically observed, despite the continuous density distribution of RBCs. We developed a continuity equation incorporating cell aggregation to describe the macroscopic evolution of RBC volume fraction in a density gradient, considering a continuous RBC density distribution. Numerical solutions demonstrate that the competition between net buoyancy and aggregation is sufficient to create band patterns. Our model reproduces the temporal evolution observed in experiments, but also predicts several types of bifurcation-like behaviors for the steady-state patterns in constant gradients, depending on RBC volume fraction and aggregation energy.
Keywords: pattern formation; density separation; cell aggregation; red blood cells; adhesion