Acoustophoretic removal of proteins from blood components

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Biotechnology
• Hematology

Background:

• Plasma protein removal from red blood cell (RBC) concentrates is critical for transfusion safety, especially for patients with immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency.
• Current methods for protein removal involve multiple steps, leading to reduced cell recovery and efficiency.
• Developing advanced techniques for efficient and gentle RBC processing is essential for improving transfusion outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a miniaturized system for one-step plasma protein removal from RBC concentrates using integrated ultrasound and acoustophoresis.
• To assess the efficiency of removing key plasma proteins, including albumin and IgA, from RBCs.
• To compare the cell recovery rate of the novel acoustophoresis method with conventional techniques.

Main Methods:

• Development of a miniaturized system integrating ultrasound for acoustophoresis.
• Continuous flow processing to transfer RBCs from plasma-containing solution to SAG-M additive solution.
• Quantification of albumin and IgA removal from RBC concentrates.
• Measurement of RBC recovery rates.

Main Results:

• Achieved nearly complete removal of albumin and IgA from concentrated RBCs in a single step.
• Demonstrated a high RBC recovery rate of approximately 97%.
• The acoustophoresis system outperformed the current standard procedure (dilution and centrifugation) in terms of cell recovery (97% vs. >90%).

Conclusions:

• Integrated acoustophoresis in a miniaturized system provides an efficient one-step method for preparing protein-free RBC concentrates.
• This technology offers significant advantages over conventional methods, particularly in preserving RBC viability and yield.
• The developed system shows strong potential for clinical applications in blood transfusion, especially for immunodeficient patients.