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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Measuring Deformability and Red Cell Heterogeneity in Blood by Ektacytometry

Measuring Deformability and Red Cell Heterogeneity in Blood by Ektacytometry

Published on: January 12, 2018

Exploiting osmosis for blood cell sorting.

Vahidreza Parichehreh¹, Rosendo Estrada, Srikanth Suresh Kumar

¹Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, 2210 S. Brook Street, Louisville, KY 40208, USA.

Biomedical Microdevices

|February 1, 2011

Summary

This study introduces a novel method using controlled osmotic exposure to effectively separate white blood cells (WBCs) from red blood cells (RBCs). This technique enables size-based isolation of WBC subpopulations with minimal cell activation.

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Area of Science:

Hematology
Cell Biology
Biotechnology

Background:

Blood leukocytes (white blood cells, WBCs) are crucial for monitoring immune and inflammatory status.
Current methods for isolating WBCs, such as immuno-affinity protocols, can cause undesirable cell activation.
Existing size-based sorting methods are insufficient for WBCs due to overlapping cell sizes.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate controlled osmotic exposure as a method for depleting red blood cells (RBCs) and differentially sizing WBC populations.
To develop a non-activating technique for isolating specific WBC subpopulations.

Main Methods:

Utilized a microfluidic cell docking platform to evaluate RBC and WBC responses to deionized (DI) water.
Employed time-lapse microscopy to observe RBC depletion and differential WBC sizing.
Used a flow-through microfluidic device to expose WBCs to DI water for varying durations (30-90 s) and quantified cell loss and activation.

Main Results:

Deionized water rapidly depleted RBCs within 15 seconds.
Achieved a size difference greater than 3 μm between lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes.
Demonstrated minimal activation, with ~100% preservation of monocytes and granulocytes, and ~30% loss of lymphocytes (primarily CD3+/CD4+).

Conclusions:

Controlled osmotic exposure is a feasible method for isolating WBC subpopulations based on size.
This technique offers a non-activating alternative for processing blood samples for cellular analysis.
The microfluidic approach shows promise for efficient and gentle isolation of monocytes, granulocytes, and lymphocytes.