Experimental mechanics of magnetic microparticle-induced strain on fibrin clots.

In this study, a novel technique was developed in which magnetic microparticles (MMPs) and quantum dots (QDs) were successfully incorporated into fibrin clots. The MMPs were added at concentrations of 0.1 and 1 wt % of the fibrin content in an effort to determine if a magnetic field could be used to mechanically stretch the fibrin network, simulating how cells may invade a network. The QDs were added at a dilute concentration of 0.1 wt % to determine if the mechanical properties of the fibrin network would be significantly altered and to ascertain if the overall stretch on the network could be observed. Based on strain sweep and frequency sweep rheological analysis, it was determined that both QDs and MMPs incorporated into fibrin networks at 0.1 wt % caused irreversible plastic deformation in the fibrin clot sample, as evidenced by a precipitous decline in the storage modulus value.