Human Blood Platelets Adsorption on Polymeric Materials for Liquid Biopsy

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Hematology

Background:

• Platelets are valuable blood biomarkers for various diseases, including cancer.
• Automated microfluidic devices (lab-on-a-chips) can enhance platelet manipulation for liquid biopsy applications.
• Selecting appropriate materials is crucial for developing effective microdevices for platelet analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the adhesion and activation of human platelets on various polymeric materials.
• To identify suitable polymers for microdevices designed for human platelet isolation and analysis.
• To differentiate polymers based on their interaction with platelets for specific microdevice applications.

Main Methods:

• Evaluation of platelet adhesion and activation on selected polymers (PDMS, PMMA, COC, 3D printing resins).
• Utilized scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for visualizing adherent platelets and their activation.
• Employed confocal microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) for detailed analysis of platelet features and surface interactions.

Main Results:

• Polymers were categorized into two groups: those promoting significant platelet adhesion and those with minimal to no adhesion.
• Identified specific polymeric materials suitable for microdevices intended for capturing human platelets.
• Determined other materials appropriate for platelet processing microdevices, minimizing surface loss.

Conclusions:

• Different polymeric materials exhibit distinct interactions with human platelets, influencing their suitability for microdevice fabrication.
• This research provides a basis for selecting optimal materials for microfluidic devices in platelet-based diagnostics and research.
• The findings support the development of advanced lab-on-a-chip technologies for enhanced liquid biopsy and platelet biomarker analysis.