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Updated: Apr 13, 2026
Microparticle Manipulation by Standing Surface Acoustic Waves with Dual-frequency Excitations
Published on: August 21, 2018
Non-contact acoustic capture of microparticles from small plasma volumes
Mikael Evander1, Olof Gidlöf, Björn Olde
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden. mikael.evander@bme.lth.se.
Abstract:
Microparticles (MP) are small (100-1000 nm) membrane vesicles shed by cells as a response to activation, stress or apoptosis. Platelet-derived MP (PMP) has been shown to reflect the pathophysiological processes of a range of cardiovascular diseases and there is a potential clinical value in using PMPs as biomarkers, as well as a need to better understand the biology of these vesicles. The current method for isolating MP depends on differential centrifugation steps, which require relatively large sample volumes and have been shown to compromise the integrity and composition of the MP population. We present a novel method for rapid, non-contact capture of PMP in minute sample volumes based on a microscale acoustic standing wave technology. Capture of PMPs from plasma is shown by scanning electron microscopy and flow cytometry. Furthermore, the system is characterized with regards to plasma sample concentration and flow rate. Finally, the technique is compared to a standard differential centrifugation protocol using samples from both healthy controls and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patient samples. The acoustic system is shown to offer a quick and automated setup for extracting microparticles from small sample volumes with higher recovery than a standard differential centrifugation protocol.
Insights
This study introduces a novel acoustic technology for isolating platelet-derived microparticles (PMPs) from small blood volumes. This method offers higher recovery and preserves PMP integrity compared to traditional centrifugation, aiding cardiovascular disease research.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cardiovascular Research
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Microparticles (MPs), including platelet-derived MPs (PMPs), are cell-derived vesicles implicated in cardiovascular disease pathophysiology.
- Current isolation methods like differential centrifugation require large sample volumes and can damage MPs.
- Understanding PMP biology and utilizing them as biomarkers necessitates improved isolation techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel, rapid, non-contact method for isolating PMPs from minimal plasma volumes.
- To compare the efficiency and PMP integrity of the new method against standard differential centrifugation.
- To assess the potential of PMPs as biomarkers in cardiovascular conditions like ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
Main Methods:
- Development of a microscale acoustic standing wave technology for PMP capture.
- Characterization of the acoustic system using scanning electron microscopy and flow cytometry.
- Comparative analysis with differential centrifugation using plasma from healthy controls and STEMI patients.
Main Results:
- Successful capture and isolation of PMPs from plasma using acoustic technology.
- Demonstration of higher PMP recovery with the acoustic method compared to differential centrifugation.
- Validation of the acoustic system's performance across different plasma concentrations and flow rates.
Conclusions:
- The novel acoustic standing wave technology provides a rapid, automated, and efficient method for isolating PMPs from small sample volumes.
- This technique preserves PMP integrity and offers superior recovery, making it a promising tool for cardiovascular research and biomarker discovery.
- The acoustic method represents a significant advancement over traditional centrifugation for PMP analysis.
