Network simulation-based optimization of centrifugo-pneumatic blood plasma separation

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Microfluidics
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• Accurate plasma separation is crucial for various diagnostic assays.
• Existing methods can be time-consuming or require complex instrumentation.
• Microfluidic devices offer potential for rapid and automated sample processing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate an automated, robust, and rapid plasma separation technique using centrifugal microfluidics.
• To achieve high plasma purity suitable for downstream analysis.
• To optimize the microfluidic disk design and operational protocol for efficiency and insusceptibility to red blood cell resuspension.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a centrifugal microfluidic polymer disk for blood separation.
• Employed a two-step rotational frequency protocol to concentrate red blood cells (RBCs) and plasma.
• Optimized disk design and pneumatic actuation for plasma transfer and RBC suppression.
• Assessed plasma purity by measuring residual hemoglobin after RBC lysis.

Main Results:

• Achieved automated separation of 14 μl plasma from 40 μl whole blood within 43 seconds.
• Demonstrated high plasma purity of 99.81% ± 0.11% across a hematocrit range of 20%-60%.
• The pneumatic actuation eliminated the need for surface treatments or external means, facilitating low-cost fabrication.

Conclusions:

• The developed centrifugal microfluidic system provides a fast, robust, and highly pure plasma separation method.
• The pneumatic actuation and optimized protocol enable efficient processing without significant red blood cell contamination.
• This technology holds promise for low-cost, mass-produced diagnostic devices, particularly for point-of-care applications.