TITLE:
Impact of Sugar on the Mechanical Properties of Red Blood Cells Assessed by Optical Tweezers
AUTHORS:
Pavel Yale, Abade Ange-Boris N’Guessan, Guy-Oscar Regnima, Jean Michel Edoukoua Konin, Henri Joel Kouassi Loukou, Michel Abaka Kouacou, Jérémie Thouakesseh Zoueu
KEYWORDS:
Red Blood Cell, Optical Tweezers, Hyperglycemia, Shear Modulus, Viscoelasticity, Relaxation Time
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.13 No.12,
December
26,
2025
ABSTRACT: The deformability of red blood cells is a mechanical property that is essential for effective blood microcirculation. Pathological metabolic conditions, particularly chronic hyperglycemia associated with diabetes, cause these cells to stiffen, contributing to microvascular complications. This study aims to quantify the impact of glucose exposure on the viscoelastic properties of human erythrocytes using an optical tweezers technique. Healthy erythrocytes were incubated under simulated hyperglycemia conditions for 2 hours. The microbead, trapped by a laser, was used to indent the red blood cell membrane and measure force relaxation over time. The results reveal an increase in relaxation time and a reduction in the viscous component of the membrane. The optical tweezers method is thus established as a sensitive and quantitative tool for assessing mechanical damage to erythrocytes, offering prospects for early diagnosis of the impact of diabetes on microcirculation.