Polymerization and dissolution of fibrin under homogeneous magnetic fields

We investigated whether or not a mutually compensating state of coagulation and fibrinolysis is changed by homogeneous magnetic fields. We used a superconducting magnet which produced magnetic fields of up to 14 T at its center. Fibrin polymerization over time, and the subsequent dissolution of the fibrin fiber network, were observed by measuring the optical absorbance of the mixture at 350 nm. A spectrophotometer with an external optical cell box in a superconducting magnet was used. We observed that the optical absorbance of the mixture at 350 nm increased during the fibrin-polymerization process, and decreased during the fibrinolytic processes. The optical absorbance was stable in the transient state between fibrin-polymerization and fibrinolytic processes. A magnetic field of 14 T increased the rate of the polymerization process by 55%–70% compared to the control group. On the other hand, the rate of the fibrinolytic process under a magnetic field at 14 T, increased by 27%–140% compared to the control. The results indicate that the magnetic orientation of fibrin fibers accelerated both the polymerization and the dissolution of fibrin fibers.