The platelet hammer: In vitro platelet activation under repetitive hypershear

Jawaad Sheriff, Phat L. Tran, Marcus Hutchinson, Tracy Decook, Marvin J. Slepian, Danny Bluestein, Jolyon Jesty

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices, such as ventricular assist devices and the total artificial heart, have emerged as a vital therapy for advanced and end-stage heart failure. However, MCS patients face life-long antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy to minimize thrombotic complications resulting from the dynamic and supraphysiologic device-associated shear stress conditions, whose effect on platelet activation is poorly understood. We repeatedly exposed platelets to average shear stresses up to 1000 dyne/cm2 for as short as 25 ms in the 'platelet hammer,' a syringe-capillary viscometer. Platelet activation state was measured using a modified prothrombinase assay and morphological changes analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. An increase in stress accumulation (SA), the product of shear stress and exposure time, led to an increase in the platelet activation state and post-high shear platelet activation rate, or sensitization. A significant increase in platelet activation state was observed beyond an SA of 1500 dyne-s/cm2, with a marked increase in pseudopod length visible beyond an SA of 1000 dyne-s/cm2. The platelet hammer may be used to study other shear-dependent pathologies and may ultimately enhance the safety and effectiveness of MCS devices and objective antithrombotic pharmacotherapy management.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2015 37th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBC 2015
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages262-265
Number of pages4
ISBN (Electronic)9781424492718
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 4 2015
Event37th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBC 2015 - Milan, Italy
Duration: Aug 25 2015Aug 29 2015

Publication series

NameProceedings of the Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBS
Volume2015-November
ISSN (Print)1557-170X

Other

Other37th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBC 2015
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityMilan
Period8/25/158/29/15

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Signal Processing
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
  • Health Informatics

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