Blood clots

Fibrin networks show strain hardening, Mullins effect, and nonlinear stress-relaxation. This rich mechanical response can be accessed by rheometry. Viscoelastic tests together with treatment protocols based on cut-off values are already used for postoperative patient care, but only the linear behavior of clots can be accessed by these methods. Measuring at broader ranges of shear deformation will add valuable information to pure kinetic tests because blood flow compels clots into a dynamic non-linear response that alters clot remodeling. We therefore looked for an easy-to-use rheological protocol to identify the mechanical phenotype of a blood clot at large strains. The protocol(1) can also identify amyloidic fibrin fiber networks(2). It translates well to other gels that contain fibers, such as collagen hydrogels with or without embedded cells(3,4).

References

1. U Windberger, J Läuger (2020). Blood clot phenotyping by rheometry: platelets and fibrinogen chemistry affect stress-softening and-stiffening at large oscillation amplitude. Molecules 25 (17), 3890
2. JM Nunes, T Fillis, MJ Page, C Venter, O Lancry, DB Kell, U Windberger, E. Pretorius (2020). Gingipain R1 and lipopolysaccharide from Porphyromonas gingivalis have major effects on blood clot morphology and mechanics. Frontiers in Immunology 11, 1551
3. F Millesi, S Mero, L Semmler, A Mann, A Rad, S Stadlmayr, A Borger, P Supper, M Härtinger, L. Ploszczanski, U Windberger et al. (2023). Systematic Comparison of Commercial Hydrogels Revealed That a Synergy of Laminin and Strain-Stiffening Promotes Directed Migration of Neural Cells, ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 15 (10), 12678-12695
4. S Rohringer, K Schneider, G Eder, P Hager, M Enayati, B Kapeller, A Kiss, U Windberger et al. (2922) Chorion-derived extracellular matrix hydrogel and fibronectin surface coatings show similar beneficial effects on endothelialization of expanded polytetrafluorethylene vascular grafts, Materials Today,

Agathe Robisson
head of research unit
Telefon: +43-1-58801-20626
Fax: +43-1-58801-20697
E-Mail: agathe.robisson@tuwien.ac.at

Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH (Wood K plus)

Area Wood Materials Technologies, Team Advanced Bonding (“ADBO”) (Head: Dr. Erik van Herwijnen)

Research and Development on wood adhesives, Chemorheological analysis of curing reactions, Rheokinetics, Storage stability, Effect of additives, hardeners and fillers on curing and viscosity

Senior Scientists: Dr. Pia Solt-Rindler (main resonsible person for rheometry) and DI Dr. Catherine Rosenfeld

Address:
Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH,
Altenberger Straße 69, A-4040 Linz
c/o Universitäts- und Forschungszentrum Tulln (UFT),
Konrad Lorenz Straße 24, 3430 Tulln
Tel.: +43 1 47654-89188

AC2T research GmbH
Viktor-Kaplan-Straße 2/C
2700 Wiener Neustadt

Tel: +43 2622 816 00 – 270 
 
Information on the test systems are here:
https://www.ac2t.at/en/infrastructure/material-surface-analytics/

Institute of Food Science – Food Physics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna

Food, despite its complexity, may be examined in the framework of physics.
Many processes and concepts familiar to physicists are involved in food processing, including van der Waals forces, phase separation, diffusion, and phase transitions, to mention a few.
Food systems also involve modern physics difficulties that are still poorly understood, such as percolation, gelation, and the nature of the glass transition.

Physical properties of foods can be changed by preparation and/or food processing, as well as ingredient selection and modification, and become apparent prior, during, and after consumption.

The Food Physics research group conducts multidisciplinary research integrating Physics, Chemistry, Microbiology, Process Engineering, Sensory Science, and Human Physiology, and collaborates closely with other working groups inside and outside the university.

The research activities range from objective measurements of relevant functional, technological, and sensory attributes of liquid and solid products (e.g., flow and fracture behaviour, visco-elasticity, sound emission, adhesion, macro-structure, colour, surface tension, density, and so on) to process and product optimization, as well as human oral processing.

Our purpose is to produce novel mesostructures and application concepts for academic partners, industry, and society, as well as to teach students to implement such integration in their future jobs.

Most of our research projects include rheology, from fundamental rheology utilising an Anton Paar MCR302 and a Kinexus Pro+ to more applied rheology and texture employing Texture Analyzers, Extensographs, and Fluorgraphs.
Collaborations with academic and industry partners from the Food Sector, as well as other fields, are encouraged.
Projects might range from simple, individual measurements through small-scale contract research, method development, and bigger research consortia.

Close connections with several institutions at BOKU allow for the integration of many fields into rheological research.

Rheometers

• Anton Paar MCR702: Shear rheometry & dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA)
• Anton Paar MCR501: Narrow-gap rheometry:
  • • high shear rates: > 105 s-1 (viscosity & normal stress differences)
    • minimal sample volume: < 100 µl
    • parallel disk rheometer with gap width down to 10 µm
    • In-situ fluorescence microscopy, further optical equipment

   

• Anton Paar MCR301
• Physica UDS200
• Capillary viscometer: diverse Ubbelohde viscometers

4. key words

• • • Narrow-gap rheometry
    • High shear rates
    • Minimal sample volume
    • Rheo-optics
    • Main research areas in rheology:
      • Narrow-gap rheometry
      • Polymer and polyelectrolyte solutions (including biopolymers and DNA)
      • Cell monolayer rheometry and tissue rhreology
      • Load limits and adhesion limits of cells
      • Material characterization
      • Industrial Projects
    •  Topics in fluid mechanics:
      • Particle-laden and interfacial flows
      • Sensors, optical methods
      • Flow instabilities, flows with heat and mass transfer, Marangoni effect, convection
    • Topics in high pressure processes:
      • Pressure-dependent material properties, phase transitions
      • Optical methods

contact
Prof. Dr. habil. Andreas Wierschem
Phone number: +49 9131 85-29566
Email: andreas.wierschem@fau.de

Lehrstuhl für Strömungsmechanik
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Cauerstraße 4
D-91058 Erlangen

References (selection, with focus on rheology)

• B. Büyükurgancı, S. K. Basu, M. Neuner, J. Guck, A. Wierschem, F. Reichel, Shear rheology of methyl cellulose based solutions for cell mechanical measurements at high shear rates, Soft Matter 19, 1739-1748 (2023)
• S. Lee, K. M. I. Bashir, D. H. Jung, S. K. Basu, G. Seo, M.-G. Cho, A. Wierschem, Measuring the linear viscoelastic regime of MCF-7 cells with a monolayer rheometer in the presence of microtubule-active anticancer drugs at high concentrations, Interface Focus 12, 20220036 (2022)
• K. M. I. Bashir, S. Lee, D. H. Jung, S. K. Basu, M.-G. Cho, A. Wierschem, Narrow-gap rheometry: A novel method for measuring cell mechanics, Cells 11, 2010 (2022)
• H. Dakhil, S. K. Basu, S. Steiner, Y. Gerlach, A. Soller, S. Pan, N. Germann, M. Leidenberger, B. Kappes, A. Wierschem, Buffered λ-DNA solutions at high shear rates, Journal of Rheology 65, 159-169 (2021) (featured article, selected for Scilight)
• H. Dakhil, D. Auhl, A. Wierschem, Infinite-shear viscosity plateau of salt-free aqueous xanthan solutions, Journal of Rheology 63, 63-69 (2019) (featured article)
• H. Dakhil, H. Do, H. Hübner, A. Wierschem, Measuring the adhesion limit of fibronectin for fibroblasts with a narrow-gap rotational rheometer, Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering 41, 353-358 (2018)
• L. Niklaus, S. Tansaz, H. Dakhil, M. Pröschel, M. Lang, M. Kostrzewa, P. B. Coto, R. Detsch, U. Sonnewald, A. Wierschem, A. R. Boccaccini, R. D. Costa, Micropatterned down-converting coating for white bio-hybrid light-emitting diodes, Advanced Functional Materials 27, 1601792 (2017)
• L. Niklaus, H. Dakhil, M. Kostrzewa, P. Branda-Coto, U. Sonnewald, A. Wierschem, R. D. Costa, Easy and versatile coating approach for long-living white hybrid light-emitting diodes, Materials Horizons3, 340-347 (2016)
• H. Dakhil, D. F. Gilbert, D. Malhotra, A. Limmer, H. Engelhardt, A. Amtmann, J. Hansmann, H. Hübner, R. Buchholz, O. Friedrich, A. Wierschem, Measuring average rheological quantities of cell monolayers in the linear viscoelastic regime, Rheologica Acta 55, 527-536 (2016)
• D. Kokkinos, H. Dakhil, A. Wierschem, H. Briesen, A. Braun, Deformation and rupture of Dunaliella salina at high shear rates without the use of thickeners, Biorheology 53, 1-11 (2016)
• M. Kostrzewa, A. Delgado, A. Wierschem, Particle settling in micellar solutions of varying concentration and salt content, Acta Mechanica 227, 677-692 (2016)
• S. Herrmann, M. Kostrzewa, A. Wierschem, C. Streb, Polyoxometalate-based ionic liquids (POM-ILs) as self-repairing acid-resistant corrosion protection, Angewandte Chemie International Edition 53, 13596–13599 (2014) (hot paper)
• H. Dakhil, A. Wierschem, Measuring low viscosities with a rotational rheometer in a thin-gap parallel-disk configuration, Applied Rheology 24, 63795 (2014)

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Roberto Cerbino

Anton Paar MCR 702e Multidrive Space with accessories (second motor, polarized light imaging, etc.)
– custom-made stress-controlled shear rheometer for rheo-microscopy experiments with commercial microscopes (as described in https://doi.org/10.3389/fphy.2022.1013805)

lab head: roberto.cerbino@univie.ac.at

admin: martina.benedikt@univie.ac.at

Dr. Kareem Elsayad

Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology (CACB), and Medical Imaging Cluster (MIC)
Medical University of Vienna,

Währingerstrasse 13, Vienna, A-1090, Austria

Tel. (office) +43 (0) 1 401 60 37578 / Tel. (mobile) +43 (0) 660 98 34138

https://anatomie-zellbiologie.meduniwien.ac.at/wissenschaft-forschung/imaging/elsayad-lab/ 

Lovis 2000 Rolling-ball viscometer, Anton Paar (small volume viscosity of liquids)
Brillouin light scattering microspectroscopy (High frequency longitudinal viscosity of liquids-solids)

Mag. pharm. Dr. Viktoria Klang

Email: victoria.klang@univie.ac.at,

Phone: 00431 42777 55403,

Address:
Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2,
1090 Vienna, Austria

Dipl.-Ing. Dr. mont. Roman Christopher Kerschbaumer

Head of Research Group Processing Technologies
Polymer Competence Center Leoben GmbH
Roseggerstraße 12
A-8700 Leoben

Tel: 0043/3842/42962-82

Fax: 0043/3842/42962-6

Email: Roman.Kerschbaumer@pccl.at

Laurence Noirez, @: laurence.noirez@cea.fr,
https://iramis.cea.fr/Pisp/laurence.noirez/
CNRS Research Director
Laboratoire Léon Brillouin (CEA-CNRS)
CEA-Saclay
91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cédex
France

Equipment:

• Strain-imposed rheometer: ARES2 (TA-Instruments) full wetting interfacial contact, coupled to optical and emissivity measurements.
• Linkam cell: steady-state and oscillatory shear motion for optical microscopy measurements, crossed polarization option, thermally regulated at +/- 0.1°C from RT up to 120°C.
• Neutron scattering methods (SANS) for molecular description under flow field (Couette cell, cone-plate, steady-state and oscillatory setup)

Joint CEA and CNRS unit of the Université de Paris-Saclay located at the South of Paris, internationally reputed for its high expertise to probe structure and dynamics of condensed matter (liquids and solids) using in particular scattering methods.

To the powerpoint presentation