Micro-Volume Blood Separation Membrane for In-Situ Biosensing

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Conventional blood tests require bulky equipment for accurate analysis.
• Efficient whole blood separation is crucial for point-of-care testing (POCT).

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a POCT testing strip for whole blood separation and colorimetric analysis.
• To create a porous membrane capable of efficient blood component separation without external devices.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of cellulose acetate (CA) membranes with varying pore structures using a non-solvent method.
• Characterization of CA@PEG-2000 membranes for nano- and micro-pore structures.
• Evaluation of blood separation efficiency, response time, sample volume, and sensitivity.

Main Results:

• CA@PEG-2000 membranes demonstrated efficient whole blood separation, capturing cells on the surface and allowing plasma diffusion.
• The membrane exhibited a rapid response time (<2 min), ultralow sample volume (5 μL), and high sensitivity.
• Theoretical fluid flow estimation using the Lucas-Washburn equation was applied.

Conclusions:

• The developed CA@PEG-2000 membrane is effective for rapid whole blood separation in POCT.
• This technology offers a viable alternative for quantitative biomarker detection in various clinical applications.
• The POCT strip eliminates the need for external equipment, simplifying blood analysis.