Analysis of suction experiments on red blood cells

Abstract

In discussion of red cells in suction there is some doubt about the importance of slip at the pipette mouth. The extreme assumption that there is no slip is considered here. Two theoretical models, Hookean and Mooney materials, are used to investigate the inflation of a spherical cap. The results of this analysis are then compared with the experimental data already available from suction experiments in an attempt to determine a lower bound for elastic moduli. The values derived are at the lower end of the generally accepted range, being close to those of Hochmuth and Mohandas. The no-slip assumption is then critically reviewed in the light of these predictions.