Shape transformations of red blood cells in the capillary and their possible connections to oxygen transportation

Abstract

In this work, a series of numerical simulations have been performed to obtain the steady shapes of red blood cells under a shear force field in the capillary. Two possible classes of steady shapes, the axisymmetric parachute and the non-axisymmetric parachute, are found. If we assume that oxygen diffusion across the red cell membrane is mediated by membrane curvature, it is found that the non-axisymmetric parachute will be more favorable due to its special shape which enables it to have a larger portion of membrane patch capable of releasing oxygen to tissues.