Nanocellulose Hydrogel for Blood Typing Tests.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Hematology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• The gel test is the standard for blood typing, using microbead matrices.
• Current microbead methods can lack sensitivity in separating red blood cells (RBCs) and antibodies.
• There is a need for more sensitive, sustainable, and reliable materials for blood grouping diagnostics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate nanocellulose hydrogel as a novel medium for gel-based blood typing.
• To evaluate the performance of nanocellulose hydrogel in both forward and reverse blood grouping tests.
• To optimize nanocellulose hydrogel formulations for enhanced sensitivity, stability, and reduced cell lysis.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers and their formulation into hydrogels.
• Addition of glycine to optimize osmotic pressure and reduce hemolysis in forward typing.
• Chemical cross-linking of cellulose nanofibers with HMDA and addition of NaCl for reverse typing optimization.
• Evaluation of RBC separation, hemolysis, gel yield point, and colloidal stability.

Main Results:

• Nanocellulose hydrogels effectively separated agglutinated and individual RBCs in forward typing with minimal hemolysis (5%).
• Cross-linked nanocellulose hydrogels showed an 8-fold increase in yield point for reverse typing.
• Optimized formulations limited cell lysis to 15% in reverse typing while maintaining gel stability.
• The nanocellulose hydrogel provided clear and well-defined results for both blood grouping tests.

Conclusions:

• Nanocellulose hydrogel is a performant, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative to microbeads for blood typing.
• This green soft material offers improved sensitivity and reliability for gel-based blood grouping diagnostics.
• The developed nanocellulose hydrogel system provides clear results, advancing blood typing methodologies.