Master Thesis Student
Badalona, Cataluña, España
Viscosity study on blood infected by 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑚 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑢𝑚 malaria parasite. The viscoelastic changes that the red blood cells undergo are related with viscosity variations of the infected blood. Different stages of the 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑚 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑢𝑚 asexual cycle are studied from this rheological point of view. Additionally, we explore how temperature and the surrounding medium influence the blood's viscosity. To obtain the data we use a microrheometer based on a microchannel and a fluid-front electronic detection system, which allow us to obtain precise measurements using electrodes. Furthermore, the data analysis is performed employing a Python code, which processes the data and obtains the desired parameters.Research advised by Dr. Hernández Machado from the Department of Condensed Matter Physics at the University of Barcelona and Dr. del Portillo from ISGlobal and Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP).