Microfluidic-Based Biosensor for Blood Viscosity and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Using Disposable Fluid Delivery...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Fluid Dynamics
• Hematology

Background:

• Simultaneous measurement of blood viscosity and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is crucial for analyzing red blood cell (RBC) and plasma protein variations.
• Conventional microfluidic methods often require multiple syringe pumps for precise flow control, complicating measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simplified microfluidic system for simultaneous measurement of blood viscosity and ESR.
• To replace traditional syringe pumps with air-compressed syringes (ACSs) for fluid delivery in a T-shaped microfluidic channel.

Main Methods:

• Utilized two ACSs for delivering blood and a reference fluid (RBCs in glycerin solution) into a microfluidic channel.
• Employed micro-particle image velocimetry (μPIV) and digital image processing to obtain fluid velocities and interfacial location.
• Developed a calibration curve relating μPIV data to flow rates from a syringe pump for accurate viscosity measurements.
• Measured ESR by monitoring image intensity of the blood sample over time with horizontally installed ACSs.

Main Results:

• Successfully measured blood viscosity using a parallel co-flowing method with a correction factor.
• Quantified ESR using two indices derived from image intensity over time.
• Demonstrated the method's ability to assess the contributions of hematocrit, base solutions, and hardened RBCs to blood viscosity and ESR.
• Achieved experimental results comparable to previous methods.

Conclusions:

• The proposed microfluidic method effectively measures blood viscosity and ESR simultaneously using two ACSs.
• This novel approach simplifies fluid delivery without requiring precise flow rate control.
• The method provides consistent and comparable results to existing techniques, offering a viable alternative for hematological analysis.