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. 2023:2663:775-786.
doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3175-1_52.

Protocol for the Investigation of Plasma and Whole Blood Clot Property of Fibrin Fiber Thickness Using Scanning Electron Microscopy

Tengyi Cai  1   2 , Conor McCafferty  1   2 , Suelyn Van Den Helm  1   2 , Natasha Letunica  1 , Chantal Attard  1   2 , Paul Monagle  1   2   3 , Vera Ignjatovic  4   5
Affiliations

Protocol for the Investigation of Plasma and Whole Blood Clot Property of Fibrin Fiber Thickness Using Scanning Electron Microscopy

Tengyi Cai et al. Methods Mol Biol. 2023.

Abstract

Blood clot formation represents a key component of the coagulation process for preventing excessive hemorrhage. The structural characteristics of blood clots are associated with their strength and susceptibility to fibrinolysis. Scanning electron microscopy is a technique that allows for state-of-the-art image capture of blood clots, providing visualization of topography, fibrin thickness, fibrin network density, and blood cell involvement and morphology. In this chapter, we provide a detailed protocol for characterization of plasma and whole blood clot structure using SEM, covering the spectrum from blood collection, in vitro clot formation, sample preparation for SEM, imaging, and image analysis, specifically focusing on the measurement of fibrin fiber thickness.

Keywords: Clot generation; Fibrin; Plasma; Scanning electron microscope; Whole blood.

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