Streaming Potential in Bio-mimetic Microvessels Mediated by Capillary Glycocalyx

TL;DR

This study investigates how the charged endothelial glycocalyx layer in microvessels generates streaming potentials that could power implantable medical devices, revealing key physiological parameters influencing this bioelectric effect.

Contribution

It models the electrohydrodynamics of blood flow in microvessels considering complex rheology and glycocalyx properties, proposing a novel bioelectric power source for medical devices.

Findings

Streaming potential of ~0.1 V/mm in microflows.

Dependence of potential on EGL thickness and physiological parameters.

Potential to energize low-power biosensors and devices.

Abstract

Implantable medical devices and biosensors are pivotal in revolutionizing the field of medical technology by opening new dimensions in the field of disease detection and cure. These devices need to harness a biocompatible and physiologically sustainable safe power source instead of relying on external stimuli, overcoming the constraints on their applicability in-vivo. Here, by appealing to the interplay of electromechanics and hydrodynamics in physiologically relevant microvessels, we bring out the role of charged Endothelial Glycocalyx layer (EGL) towards establishing a streaming potential across physiological fluidic conduits. We account for the complex rheology of blood-mimicking fluid by appealing to Newtonian fluid model representing the blood plasma and a viscoelastic fluid model representing the whole blood. We model the EGL as a poroelastic layer with volumetric charge distribution. Our results reveal that for physiologically relevant microflows, the streaming potential induced is typically of the order of 0.1 V/mm, which may turn out to be substantial towards energizing biosensors and implantable medical devices whose power requirements are typically in the range of micro to milli Watt. We also bring out the specific implications of the relevant physiological parameters towards establishment of the streaming potential, with a vision of augmenting the same within plausible functional limits. We further unveil that the dependence of streaming potential on EGL thickness might be one of the key aspects in unlocking the mystery behind the angiogenesis pattern. Our results may open up novel bio-sensing and actuating possibilities in medical diagnostics as well as may provide a possible alternative regarding the development of physiologically safe and biocompatible power sources within the human body.