Blood viscosity changes with many pathologic conditions, but its importance has not been fully investigated because the current methods of measurement are poorly suited for clinical applications. The use of viscosity-sensitive fluorescent molecular rotors to determine fluid viscosity in a nonmechanical manner has been investigated recently, but it is unknown how the precision of the fluorescence-based method compares to established mechanical viscometry. Human blood plasma viscosity was modulated with high-viscosity plasma expanders, dextran, pentastarch, and hetastarch. The samples were divided into a calibration and a test set. The relationship between fluorescence emission and viscosity was established using the calibration set. Viscosity of the test set was determined by fluorescence and by cone-and-plate viscometer, and the precision of both methods compared. Molecular rotor fluorescence intensity showed a power law relationship with solution viscosity. Mechanical measurements deviated from the theoretical viscosity value by less than 7.6%, while fluorescence-based measurements deviated by less than 6%. The average coefficient of variation was 6.9% (mechanical measurement) and 3.4% to 3.8% (fluorescence-based measurement, depending on the molecular rotor used). Fluorescence-based viscometry exhibits comparable precision to mechanical viscometry. Fluorescence viscometry does not apply shear and is therefore more practical for biofluids which have apparent non-Newtonian properties. In addition, fluorescence instrumentation makes very fast serial measurements possible, thus promising new areas of application in laboratory and clinical settings.
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e-mail: HaidekkerM@missouri.edu
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June 2005
Technical Papers
Precision Assessment of Biofluid Viscosity Measurements Using Molecular Rotors
Walter J. Akers,
Walter J. Akers
Department of Biological Engineering,
University of Missouri-Columbia
, 252 Ag Engineering Building, Columbia, MO 65211
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Mark A. Haidekker
Mark A. Haidekker
Department of Biological Engineering,
e-mail: HaidekkerM@missouri.edu
University of Missouri-Columbia
, 252 Ag Engineering Building, Columbia, MO 65211
Search for other works by this author on:
Walter J. Akers
Department of Biological Engineering,
University of Missouri-Columbia
, 252 Ag Engineering Building, Columbia, MO 65211
Mark A. Haidekker
Department of Biological Engineering,
University of Missouri-Columbia
, 252 Ag Engineering Building, Columbia, MO 65211e-mail: HaidekkerM@missouri.edu
J Biomech Eng. Jun 2005, 127(3): 450-454 (5 pages)
Published Online: January 31, 2005
Article history
Received:
August 2, 2004
Revised:
December 20, 2004
Accepted:
January 31, 2005
Citation
Akers, W. J., and Haidekker, M. A. (January 31, 2005). "Precision Assessment of Biofluid Viscosity Measurements Using Molecular Rotors." ASME. J Biomech Eng. June 2005; 127(3): 450–454. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1894366
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