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Ferraresso, Matteo

University of British Columbia

This thesis explores the active contractility of polymeric gels as a model for blood clot retraction and its role in wound closure. The primary focus is on developing a comprehensive multi-scale computational model that simulates the contraction of blood clots, key to understanding and improving hemostatic processes. The research investigates the mechanical properties of polymeric gels that mimic the biological activity of blood clots, incorporating both experimental and computational studies to assess and predict the behaviour of these materials under hemorrhagic conditions. The methods employed include the design of experimental setups to observe clot behaviour in polymeric gels and the development of a mathematical model to simulate and predict this phenomenon. Initial findings confirm clot retraction presence under hemorrhagic conditions and its potential for wound closure. Successive, computational findings suggest that the mechanical properties of these gels can be finely tuned to replicate the natural contractile forces of blood clots, thereby providing insights into the optimization of clot mechanics for wound closure. The conclusions drawn from this research indicate that clot retraction is a platelet dependent phenomenon, responsible for effective wound closure. This enhanced understanding of clot mechanics could additionally lead to significant advancements in medical treatments for severe bleeding. Furthermore, the computational model developed offers a promising tool for predicting clot behaviour and optimizing therapeutic strategies, potentially leading to improved patient outcomes in clinical settings.

Text

2024-09-04

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/89162

Mechanical Engineering

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/