Experimental and Imaging Techniques for Examining Fibrin Clot Structures in Normal and Diseased States

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Natalie K. Fan, Georgia Institute of Technology; Philip M. Keegan, Georgia Institute of Technology; Manu Platt, Emory University; Rodney D. Averett, Georgia Institute of Technology
• Language: English
• Date: 2015-04-01
• Publisher: Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE)
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2015 Journal of Visualized Experiments
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.3791/52019
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Visualized Experiments
• ISSN: 1940-087X
• Volume: 2015
• Issue: 98
• Start Page: e52019
• End Page: e52019
• Grant/Funding Information: Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number K01HL115486 and by New Innovator Grant 1DP2OD007433-01 from the Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health.
• Keywords: COAGULATION; Issue 98; GLYCATION; PLASMA-FIBRINOGEN; BEHAVIOR; MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES; DIABETES-MELLITUS; RHEOLOGY; Multidisciplinary Sciences; Science & Technology; diabetes; sickle cell; erythrocyte; NETWORKS; disease; SICKLE-CELL-DISEASE; confocal microscopy; clot; fibrin; Science & Technology - Other Topics; Medicine; glycation; THROMBIN GENERATION
• Research Categories: Engineering, Biomedical

Abstract

Fibrin is an extracellular matrix protein that is responsible for maintaining the structural integrity of blood clots. Much research has been done on fibrin in the past years to include the investigation of synthesis, structure-function, and lysis of clots. However, there is still much unknown about the morphological and structural features of clots that ensue from patients with disease. In this research study, experimental techniques are presented that allow for the examination of morphological differences of abnormal clot structures due to diseased states such as diabetes and sickle cell anemia. Our study focuses on the preparation and evaluation of fibrin clots in order to assess morphological differences using various experimental assays and confocal microscopy. In addition, a method is also described that allows for continuous, real-time calculation of lysis rates in fibrin clots. The techniques described herein are important for researchers and clinicians seeking to elucidate comorbid thrombotic pathologies such as myocardial infarctions, ischemic heart disease, and strokes in patients with diabetes or sickle cell disease.