Effects of drag reducing polymers on initiation of atherosclerosis

Abstract

Results from two pilot studies using White Carneau pigeons on high cholesterol diets have demonstrated substantial reduction in arterial plaque accumulations when the birds were periodically injected with dilute aqueous solutions of a drag reducing polymer (Separan AP‐30) so as to maintain circulating blood concentrations of approximately 60 ppm. Initiation of arterial plaque formation may be fluid‐mechanically motivated such that regions subjected to fluid turbulence, rapidly developing boundary layers, and alternate separation and reattachment, arc; the most prone lo attack. Viscoelastic fluid response, as seen in drag reducing media, is known to alter such phenomena. Comparative documentation of plaque deposition in experimental as well as control birds shows significant differences in both the aortas and coronary arteries, at optical magnifications from 20 to 15000X.

Prophylactic and corrective action of the polyethylene oxide polyox WSR-301 in rats with experimental lipoidosis

“…The results obtained in this test series are in good agreement with the previously reported decreases in the number of atherosclerotic plaques in rabbits and birds fed an atherogenic diet and injected intravenously with Separan [8,10], a polymer chemically distinct from PEO. Recently, similar results have been obtained for rabbits using PEO [3].…”

Drag reduction and solvation in polymer solutions

“…Drag reduction (DR) in dilute polymer solution flow is a phenomenon very useful in a variety of applications 1,2) : oil well operations, crude oil transport, fire fighting, increasing sewer throughput, irrigation, hydrotransport of solids in water and heating circuits, in hydraulic machinery and jet cutting, in marine applications and also in biomedical applications (arteriosclerosis prevention, since the phenomenon occurs constantly in blood flow 3,4) ). Moreover, the drag reduction capability has been associated with antimisting, important for mist-forming combustible liquids, for instance during filling airplane fuel tanks.…”

Applications of Water-Soluble Polymers in Turbulent Drag Reduction

“…This behavior is termed the polymer-induced turbulent drag reduction (DR) effect [4,5] which is an active friction reduction mechanism compared to the prevailing passive friction reduction. Thus, DR techniques have been applied in various industrial and engineering arenas, such as oil pipelines, open channels, marine applications, agricultural field irrigation, fire hoses, and biomedical systems [6][7][8].…”