On magnetic orientation of red blood cells: behaviors in whole blood and suspension in plasma

The magnetic orientations of human red blood cells (RBCs) were investigated under strong magnetic fields up to 8 T for whole blood and suspensions in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) and in plasma. The electrical resistivity of the buffer solution containing RBCs for 40% of volume were decreased by applying magnetic fields parallel to the electric field. This phenomenon indicates that RBCs are redirected by a magnetic field. The electrical resistivity of anticoagulated whole blood was not changed by the application of magnetic fields up to 8 T. The optical transmission of suspension 0.02% RBCs suspended in PBS was changed by the application of magnetic fields. On the other hand, the optical transmissivity of the suspension in plasma was not changed. These results show that plasma proteins such as albumin, globulin and fibrinogen affect the magnetic orientation of RBCs in blood