The average diameter of human red blood cells (RBCs) is around 8µm. As RBCs circulate in the body and transport oxygen, they have to deform repeatedly in small blood capillaries. RBC deformability is therefore an important mechanical attribute for efficient oxygen delivery. Several blood related diseases such as malaria, sickle cell anemia, and sepsis are marked with significant alterations in RBC deformability ^{[1] [2] [3]} .

This project studies RBC dynamic deformability using a simple, portable microfluidic device ^[4] . The deformability of individual RBCs can be assessed by the average velocity of RBCs passing through narrow microfluidic channels. The repeated deformations to be experienced by RBCs simulate in vivo blood capillary system. Several blood-related diseases are included in our studies.

1. A. M. Dondorp, E. Pongponratn, and N. J. White, “Reduced microcirculatory flow in severe falciparum malaria: Pathophysiology and electron-microscopic pathology, Acta Tropica vol. 89, pp. 309-317, 2004.
2. O. K. Baskurt, D. Gelmont,  and H. J. Meiselman, “Red blood cell deformability in sepsis,” American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine,  vol. 157, pp. 421-427, 1998.
3. S. Chien, “Red cell deformability and its relevance to blood flow,” Ann. Rev. Physiol. vol. 49, pp. 177-192, 1987.
4. H. Bow, IV. Pivkin, M. Diez-Silva, S.J. Goldfless, M. Dao, J.C. Niles, S. Suresh, and J. Han, A microfabricated deformability-based flow cytometer with application to malaria, Lab on a Chip, vol. 11, pp. 1065-1073, 2011.