High-Resolution Micro-PIV Velocity Profiles and Cell-Free Layer Imaging of Blood Flow in Capillary Microchannels

This dataset comprises detailed micro-particle image velocimetry (µPIV) measurements and high-speed imaging of red blood cell flow in glass microchannels of 25 µm and 50 µm diameter, designed to study microscale hemodynamics under physiologically relevant conditions. The data were collected across a range of hematocrit levels (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) and two suspending media—phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and native plasma. µPIV recordings include paired fluorescent particle images used to extract 2D velocity vectors through cross-correlation techniques, with 100 frames acquired per condition. Simultaneously, high-speed brightfield imaging was used to visualize the formation and evolution of the cell-free layer (CFL) adjacent to microchannel walls, acquiring 200 images per condition. The dataset includes raw and processed µPIV images, velocity profiles, high-speed image sequences, pressure, and flow rates. These data supported the development of a two-phase Core-Plasma model to describe velocity and shear rate distributions and were also used in a parallel analysis of CFL thickness in relation to local shear rate gradients. Together, the dataset provides a valuable experimental benchmark for validating computational models and studying non-Newtonian blood behaviour in microcirculation.