HemoCell
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HemoCell Simulation Framework
We use HemoCell, an open-source, high-performance simulation framework for modeling blood flow and cellular biomechanics at the microscale. HemoCell combines multiple numerical methods to capture the complex interactions between blood plasma, deformable cells, and the vessel wall.
The blood plasma is simulated using the Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM)[1], which efficiently models fluid flow through complex vascular geometries. Cell deformation is represented using a Discrete Element Method (DEM)[2], where each cell is modeled as a network of elastic springs that reproduces realistic mechanical behavior. The interaction between the cells and the surrounding plasma is handled through the Immersed Boundary Method (IBM)[3], allowing deformable cells to move naturally within the flowing fluid. Finally, interactions between cells and the vessel wall are modeled using a stochastic receptor–ligand adhesion framework[4], enabling simulations of biologically realistic adhesion events.
By combining these complementary numerical techniques, HemoCell provides a physics-based framework capable of simulating blood flow, cell deformation, adhesion, and transport within the microvasculature.
Numerical study of ultra‐large von Willebrand factor multimers in coagulopathy
Fig. 8(a-d) Streamline and clot formation and growth at inlet of microvessel in several times (0-0.2 s). Thrombosis in the vessel grows in size with the passage of time and in the t=0.05, there is not a clot and actually the adhesion process is started but it will take time for RBC trapping and clot formation, however, the blood clot has been formed in t=0.1 and it would become larger due to the trapping of RBCs behind the clot. (e) The velocity profile near the microvessel inlet at x= 3 µm, indicated with dashed line in panel (a), at several times and the effect of the platelet-VWFadhesion and clot formation on the velocity profile. As we explained, in t=0.05, there is the adhesion process that results in an insignificant deduction in the average velocity. In addition, the mean and maximum inlet velocity would be decreased by growing the blood clot with time passing.