Figure 1

Real time live confocal imaging of human blood (objective 40 × water immersion), displaying aggregated and dried erythrocytes stained with wheat germ agglutinin-Alexa Fluor 555 and fluorescein isothiocyanate-linked Fibrin-Binding Peptide (FITC-FFBP). Cell nuclei, morphology and fibrin were visualized via HOECHST staining (blue). (a) Aluminum-coated polyethylene terephthalate: No fibrin network was detected using FFBP solution. Nuclei of two lymphocytes are visible at the top and bottom of the image. Both lymphocytes contain internalized FFBP positive vesicles. (b) Polyvinyl chloride: No fibrin network was detected using FFBP solution. (c) Polyethylene: at the center of the image the nucleus of a lymphocyte visualized via HOECHST staining (blue), containing internalized FFBP-positive vesicles. No fibrin network was detected using FFBP solution. (d) Paper towel: numerous fibrin networks (green) and erythrocytes (red). Notably, most of the fibrin fibers were in close contact with the paper towel fibers.