Understanding how the structure of blood clots affects thrombosis risk

Role of fibrin biofilm and clot network architecture in thrombus stability (renewal)

Thrombosis occurs when a clot forms in a blood vessels and prevents the blood supply from reaching the tissues supplied by that vessel. Clots are primarily made up of platelets embedded in a network of fibres made of a protein called fibrin. Clots that have lots of fibrin fibres are linked to a higher risk of thrombosis. Altering fibrin structure could therefore be a promising therapeutic strategy for thrombosis. Professor Ariens has previously revealed that fibrin produces a biofilm – a thin surface layer of dense fibrin which encases and protects the clot. He thinks that the structure of the clot, and its surrounding biofilm, can affect the chance of clots to breaking away and lodging in smaller vessels where they can become life-threatening. In this programme, they plan to use state-of-the-art microscopy to study the molecular arrangement of fibrin in the biofilm in intricate detail. They will also establish whether differences in the blood vessel surface and different forces of blood flow influence the structure of clots. They will reveal how different fibrin structures contribute to the stability of the clot in mice, and subsequently in patients. This will help determine the optimal structure and stability of a blood clot, to help prevent thromboembolism, while keeping bleeding to a minimum.