{
  "abstract": "BACKGROUND: Clot contraction is the volume shrinkage of a blood clot due to action of platelet-driven contractile forces. Clot contraction is known to accelerate internal fibrinolysis (the physiological degradation of the fibrin network) but restrict external fibrinolysis (the exogenous delivery of thrombolytic agents) in whole blood. We previously showed that external fibrinolysis is limited in contracted clots due to the densified fibrin network in the periphery, but the mechanism of acceleration of internal lysis is unknown. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to identify the driving mechanism that accelerated internal lysis of contracted clots. METHODS: A comprehensive array of wet-lab experiments at the micro- and macroscopic levels, as well as computational modeling, were used to systematically disentangle the dominating mechanism leading to faster fibrinolysis of contracted clots during internal fibrinolysis. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy were used to visualize clots made with platelet-rich plasma and platelet-poor plasma to study the fibrin network structure. Platelet-driven tension was mimicked by applying uniaxial tensile strain in both large clots and individual fibers. RESULTS: Clot contraction results in fibrin network structural changes-notably, a dense periphery and heterogeneous core. Internal lysis of clots made with platelet-rich plasma that contract normally was faster than all other clots tested. Tension delays lysis of individual fibers but accelerates lysis when fibers bundle with a high percent strain. CONCLUSION: Apparent thickening of fibers due to fibrin bundling as a result of platelet-driven fibrin rearrangement and alignment, rather than platelet-driven tension on fibers, drives the acceleration of internal fibrinolysis of contracted clots.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Rutgers University, Department of Biomedical Engineering",
    "University of Pennsylvania, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology",
    "Rutgers University, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering",
    "East Carolina University, Department of Physics",
    "University of Massachusetts Lowell, Department of Chemistry",
    "University of Central Oklahoma, Department of Mathematics and Statistics"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 10,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Rebecca A. Risman"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Eva Iungbliudt"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Joshua Packard"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Igor Novikov"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Mason Lee Verhaeghe"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "John W. Weisel"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Brittany E. Bannish"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Valeri Barsegov"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Nathan E. Hudson"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Valerie Tutwiler"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4dy7vsvb3xm69.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.jtha.2026.07.007",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13715603/",
  "id": "4dy7vsvb3xm69",
  "issns": [
    "1538-7933",
    "1538-7836"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtha.2026.07.007",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Article"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2740|Blood properties and coagulation"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7169654694",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13715603",
  "pmid": "42471056",
  "published": "2026-07-18",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4dy7vsvb3xm69.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-01T12:22:51Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13715603",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtha.2026.07.007"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2740|Blood properties and coagulation",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Internal lysis of contracted clots is accelerated by fiber alignment and bundling",
  "title_text": "Internal lysis of contracted clots is accelerated by fiber alignment and bundling",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-01T12:22:51Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4dy7vsvb3xm69",
  "venue": "Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH",
  "versions": []
}