Dresden 2026 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 7: Poster Session I
BP 7.33: Poster
Monday, March 9, 2026, 15:00–17:00, P5
Linking Theory and Experiment: RBC Deformation in a Cross-Shaped Microfluidic Channel — •Clara Gremmelspacher1, Stephan Gekle1, and Manouk Abkarian2 — 1Universität Bayreuth — 2Centre de Biologie Structurale, Montpellier
Red blood cells (RBCs) must deform significantly to pass through narrow capillaries, a process governed by membrane mechanics such as shear elasticity and membrane viscosity. We use a combined experimental and computational approach to study RBC stretching under extensional flow. The investigated setup consists of two opposing inflow channels and two perpendicular outflow channels arranged in a cross shaped geometry creating a stagnation point at the intersection. By comparing deformation patterns and timescales between microfluidic experiments and Bounday-Integral-Simulations, we extract key mechanical properties of the RBC membrane. This approach links theoretical descriptions to observed dynamics, providing insights into microcirculatory behavior.
Keywords: microfluidics; boundary integral method; red blood cells; membrane mechanics