Berlin 2008 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 13: Biopolymers

BP 13.1: Talk

Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 17:15–17:30, PC 203

Fibrin network dynamics in nanodroplets — •Heather M Evans¹, Enkhtuul Surenjav¹, Craig Priest¹, Ralf Seemann^1,2, Stephan Herminghaus¹, and Thomas Pfohl¹ — ¹Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-organization, Göttingen, Germany — ²Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany

This work explores complex dynamic phenomena of the blood clotting protein, fibrin. Protein "monomers" of fibrinogen assemble into fibers in the presence of the enzyme, thrombin, to ultimately form a three-dimensional fibrin network. Consequently, fibrin is a vital component of blood clots and provides an interesting yet relevant model system to study network properties. In order to study the development and manipulation of this robust network, we utilize new microfluidic designs that allow us to produce fibrin networks within nanodroplets. The droplets prohibit sticky surface interactions between the protein and the device walls. Furthermore, the incorporation of geometric structures on the microdevice enables the controlled deformation of individual droplets containing fibrin networks. The behavior of the networks is found to depend on parameters such as the network age and droplet velocity, as well as the relative protein concentrations. Using high resolution fluorescence microscopy, we analyze the elastic recovery of these networks through several cycles of mechanical deformation.