Rheological study on network structure of fibrin clots under various conditions

Abstract

The network structure of fibrin clots formed under various conditions was investigated using rheological and morphological techniques. The diameter of fibrin fiber is greatly dependent on the ionic strength of the fibrinogen-thrombin solution. The crosslink reaction between fibrin fibers is followed by the lateral association around the crosslinked regions. At low and high ionic strengths (μ < 0.2 and μ > 1.5) the fibrin fibers are thick and the lateral association of fibrin fibers hardly takes place, but at middle ionic strength (μ = 0.5 ∼ 1.0), the fibrin fibers are thin and the lateral association of fibrin fibers easily occurs. At middle ionic strength, the increase of pH and the increase of the concentrations of fibrinogen and thrombin both results in the decrease of lateral association.