Fig. 1.

Cartoon depicting the experimental setup using a rheometer. Testing apparatus, including rheometer plates, force sensor, and humidity chamber, are shown in black. The light purple shape represents the fibrin network material, the purple lines in the fibrin network represent the isotropic fiber network, and the off-white ovals next to the clot represent the mineral oil added to prevent sample drying during testing. Platelet poor plasma (PPP) was activated with 20 mM CaCl2 and 0.2 U/mL or 1 U/mL thrombin and placed between rheometer plates, which leads to a polymerization reaction that forms a fibrin network. The rheometer plates are held fixed such that a tension in the network results in pulling on the upper plate. The tensile force on the rheometer plates generated by the polymerizing fibrin clot is measured as a function of time.