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Effects of drag reducing polymers on initiation of atherosclerosis
Author(s) -
Greene Howard L.,
Mostardi Richard F.,
Nokes Richard F.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.760200710
Subject(s) - drag , materials science , polymer , biomedical engineering , composite material , medicine , mechanics , physics
Abstract Results from two pilot studies using White Carneau pigeons on high cholesterol diets have demonstrated substantial reduction in arterial plaque accumulations when the birds were periodically injected with dilute aqueous solutions of a drag reducing polymer (Separan AP‐30) so as to maintain circulating blood concentrations of approximately 60 ppm. Initiation of arterial plaque formation may be fluid‐mechanically motivated such that regions subjected to fluid turbulence, rapidly developing boundary layers, and alternate separation and reattachment, arc; the most prone lo attack. Viscoelastic fluid response, as seen in drag reducing media, is known to alter such phenomena. Comparative documentation of plaque deposition in experimental as well as control birds shows significant differences in both the aortas and coronary arteries, at optical magnifications from 20 to 15000X.