Our lab developed a framework to track fibrin fibers as they form and to assess the fibrin network integrity based on macrostructural cues, such as network density and heterogeneity, as well as statistical microstructural properties like the fibers’ thickness, length and curvature. With volumetric imaging capacity of 5e-3 mm3 (typical fiber volume is 10e-9 mm3) obtained within tens of seconds, our spectrally encoded- based confocal microscope is capable of tracking the highly heterogenous and dynamic nature of plasma clot, which can be associated with a potential impairment in the patient’s coagulation pathways (coagulopathy) and potentially able to expand our understanding of the mechanism that transforms fibrinogen to fibrin fibers. Importantly, we are able to characterize the network during fibrin digestion, which will aid us in assessment of hypofibrinolysis conditions. High spatial specificity provided by the unique metrics of fibrin fibers network during fibrin polymerization and fibrinolysis, and their relation to standard hematology tests, will expand our understanding of the mechanical interplay between these two processes in high-risk bleeding and thrombotic patients to better predict their clinical outcomes.
