A large deformation theory for the interaction of the red cell membrane with the endothelial glycocalyx

Develops a large deformation theory to describe the interaction of the red cell membrane with the endothelial glycocalyx. This model provides the basis for understanding the unusual lift off phenomenon observed for red cells in closely fitting capillaries. Using effective medium theory, the authors first show that the local Darcy permeability of the fiber matrix is a highly nonlinear function of compression. As a consequence, the pressure distribution on the moving cell membrane surface is three orders of magnitude greater than in classical lubrication theory. These results support the observation that if a red cell starts from rest, it will exhibit a striking popout phenomenon in which it will quickly lift off the surface and then glide near the edge of the matrix layer, which is in sharp contrast to existing models where there is a thin fluid layer between the matrix and the membrane