3D simulation of aggregation of red blood cells for the study of the optoacoustic response

Abstract

The paper presents mathematical modeling of the distribution of different shapes of red blood cells in plasma. The obtained two-dimensional and three-dimensional tissue models are designed to simulate acoustic response as a result of optoacoustic effect and to calculate the number of red blood cells and determine their shape. The results of mathematical modeling allow preparing the model solutions of blood using polystyrene microspheres. Red blood cells produce quasi-spherical assemblies in different pathologies that occupy a large part of volume (from 30 % to 50 %). The purpose of the research was to simulate spherical aggregates without intersections with the same parameters and unique spatial distribution determined by the structural factor. The main benefit of presented method was investigation of different aggregate compactness with the same size of aggregates containing erythrocytes of different shapes. In the result of 3D computer simulation the total maximum volume fraction of cells was 16 %. The procedure of cells distribution account in aggregates allowed obtaining maximum aggregate compactness ϕi = 40 %.