Hemostasis-On-a-Chip: Impedance Spectroscopy Meets Microfluidics for Hemostasis Evaluation

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cardiovascular Research
• Hemostasis and Thrombosis Studies

Background:

• Vascular injury triggers complex clotting involving platelets and coagulation factors, known as hemostasis.
• Deregulated hemostasis (thrombosis) is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases, exacerbated by aging populations and lifestyle factors.
• Improved diagnostic and control tools are needed for understanding hemostasis and managing thrombosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel microflow chamber for evaluating global hemostasis.
• To assess the device's efficiency in terms of sample volume, reagent usage, and testing time.
• To compare the device's performance against conventional techniques using a new oral anticoagulant.

Main Methods:

• A microflow chamber with interchangeable biomimetic surfaces was designed.
• The device was validated by studying the anticoagulant Apixaban (APIX).
• An imprinted electrode measured impedance during coagulation, distinguishing between platelet-poor and platelet-rich plasma.

Main Results:

• The novel microflow chamber demonstrated excellent agreement with conventional methods.
• Significantly reduced blood sample (100 µL) and reagent volumes were required.
• The device successfully differentiated impedance behavior between plasma poor in platelets (PPP) and plasma rich in platelets (PRP).

Conclusions:

• The proposed microflow chamber provides a sensitive, efficient, and cost-effective platform for global hemostasis evaluation.
• This technology can aid in the diagnosis and monitoring of thrombotic disorders.
• The impedance measurement capability offers novel insights into platelet-dependent coagulation dynamics.