Calculation of mechanical properties of human red cells based on electrically induced deformation experiments

A mathematical model is presented to calculate the couple of forces elongating a three-axial ellipsoidal cell within a high frequency nonuniform electric field. The force was calculated through numerical integration of the polarisation induced force density as a function of the geometrical parameters of human red blood cells. The parameters were taken from previous experiments using video microscopy. The resulting shear moduli are some what higher than those obtained from mechanical measurements, but are in acceptable agreement. Our approach demonstrates that at high field strength an isotropic membrane tension is reached. A mechanical breakdown of cells at high field strength is not compatible with our calculations. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.