The fibrin network is one of the main components of thrombi. Altered fibrin network properties are known to influence the development and progression of thrombotic disorders, at least partly through effects on the mechanical stability of fibrin. Most studies investigating the role of fibrin in thrombus properties prepare clots under static conditions, missing the influence of blood flow which is present in vivo. In this study, plasma clots in the presence and absence of flow were prepared inside a Chandler loop. Recitrated plasma from healthy donors were spun at 0 and 30 RPM. The clot structure was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy and correlated with the stiffness measured by unconfined compression testing. We quantified fibrin fiber density, pore size, and fiber thickness and bulk stiffness at low and high strain values. Clots formed under flow had thinner fibrin fibers, smaller pores, and a denser fibrin network with higher stiffness values compared to clots formed in absence of flow. Our findings indicate that fluid flow is an essential factor to consider when developing physiologically relevant in vitro thrombus models used in researching thrombectomy outcomes or risk of embolization.

Graphical Abstract

中文翻译：

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流动影响血浆凝块中纤维蛋白网络的结构和机械特性

纤维蛋白网是血栓的主要成分之一。已知改变的纤维蛋白网络特性会影响血栓性疾病的发生和进展，至少部分是通过影响纤维蛋白的机械稳定性。大多数调查纤维蛋白在血栓特性中的作用的研究都是在静态条件下制备凝块，忽略了体内存在的血流的影响。在这项研究中，在钱德勒环内制备了存在和不存在流动的血浆凝块。来自健康捐献者的重复血浆以 0 和 30 RPM 的速度旋转。使用扫描电子显微镜和共焦显微镜对凝块结构进行表征，并与无侧限压缩测试测量的刚度相关。我们量化了低应变值和高应变值下的纤维蛋白纤维密度、孔径、纤维厚度和体积刚度。与在没有流动的情况下形成的凝块相比，在流动下形成的凝块具有更细的纤维蛋白纤维、更小的孔和更致密的纤维蛋白网络以及更高的刚度值。我们的研究结果表明，在开发用于研究血栓切除术结果或栓塞风险的生理相关体外血栓模型时，流体流动是需要考虑的重要因素。

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