1
|
Ma Z, Xia J, Upreti N, David E, Rufo J, Gu Y, Yang K, Yang S, Xu X, Kwun J, Chambers E, Huang TJ. An acoustofluidic device for the automated separation of platelet-reduced plasma from whole blood. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2024; 10:83. [PMID: 38915828 PMCID: PMC11194281 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-024-00707-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Separating plasma from whole blood is an important sample processing technique required for fundamental biomedical research, medical diagnostics, and therapeutic applications. Traditional protocols for plasma isolation require multiple centrifugation steps or multiunit microfluidic processing to sequentially remove large red blood cells (RBCs) and white blood cells (WBCs), followed by the removal of small platelets. Here, we present an acoustofluidic platform capable of efficiently removing RBCs, WBCs, and platelets from whole blood in a single step. By leveraging differences in the acoustic impedances of fluids, our device generates significantly greater forces on suspended particles than conventional microfluidic approaches, enabling the removal of both large blood cells and smaller platelets in a single unit. As a result, undiluted human whole blood can be processed by our device to remove both blood cells and platelets (>90%) at low voltages (25 Vpp). The ability to successfully remove blood cells and platelets from plasma without altering the properties of the proteins and antibodies present creates numerous potential applications for our platform in biomedical research, as well as plasma-based diagnostics and therapeutics. Furthermore, the microfluidic nature of our device offers advantages such as portability, cost efficiency, and the ability to process small-volume samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhehan Ma
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | - Jianping Xia
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | - Neil Upreti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | - Emeraghi David
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | - Joseph Rufo
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | - Yuyang Gu
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | - Kaichun Yang
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | - Shujie Yang
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | - Xiangchen Xu
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | - Jean Kwun
- Duke Transplant Center, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC USA
| | | | - Tony Jun Huang
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Fabrication of a Pneumatic Microparticle Concentrator. MICROMACHINES 2019; 11:mi11010040. [PMID: 31905683 PMCID: PMC7019989 DOI: 10.3390/mi11010040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We developed a microfluidic platform employing (normally open) pneumatic valves for particle concentration. The device features a three-dimensional network with a curved fluidic channel and three pneumatic valves (a sieve valve (Vs) that concentrates particles and two ON/OFF rubber-seal pneumatic valves that block the working fluid). Double-sided replication employing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was used to fabricate the network, channel, and chamber. Particles were blocked by deformation of the Vs diaphragm, and then accumulated in the curved microfluidic channel. The working fluid was discharged via operation of the two ON/OFF valves. After concentration, particles were released to an outlet port. The Vs pressure required to block solid particles varying in diameter was determined based on the height of the curved microchannel and a finite element method (FEM) simulation of Vs diaphragm displacement. Our method was verified according to the temporal response of the fluid flow rate controlled by the pneumatic valves. Furthermore, all particles with various diameters were successfully blocked, accumulated, and released. The operating pressure, time required for concentration, and concentration ratio were dependent on the particle diameter. The estimated concentration percentage of 24.9 µm diameter polystyrene particles was about 3.82% for 20 min of operation.
Collapse
|
3
|
|