Engineered Membranes for Residual Cell Trapping on Microfluidic Blood Plasma Separation Systems: A Comparison between Porous and Nanofibrous Membranes

Blood-based clinical diagnostics require challenging limit-of-detection for low abundance, circulating molecules in plasma. Micro-scale blood plasma separation (BPS) has achieved remarkable results in terms of plasma yield or purity, but rarely achieving both at the same time. Here, we proposed the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Membranes (Basel) 2021-08, Vol.11 (9), p.680
Main Authors: Lopresti, Francesco, Keraite, Ieva, Ongaro, Alfredo Edoardo, Howarth, Nicola Marie, La Carrubba, Vincenzo, Kersaudy-Kerhoas, Maïwenn
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
biopolymers
Blood circulation
Blood plasma
blood-plasma separation
clinical applications
Contact angle
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
Electrospinning
Erythrocytes
Extreme values
Fluid filters
Fourier analysis
Fourier transforms
Hematocrit
Hemoglobin
High density polyethylenes
Infrared analysis
Infrared spectroscopy
Mechanical properties
Membrane separation
Membranes
Microfluidics
Plasma
Polylactic acid
Polymers
Purity
Separation
Solvents
Stainless steel
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Summary:Blood-based clinical diagnostics require challenging limit-of-detection for low abundance, circulating molecules in plasma. Micro-scale blood plasma separation (BPS) has achieved remarkable results in terms of plasma yield or purity, but rarely achieving both at the same time. Here, we proposed the first use of electrospun polylactic-acid (PLA) membranes as filters to remove residual cell population from continuous hydrodynamic-BPS devices. The membranes hydrophilicity was improved by adopting a wet chemistry approach via surface aminolysis as demonstrated through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Water Contact Angle analysis. The usability of PLA-membranes was assessed through degradation measurements at extreme pH values. Plasma purity and hemolysis were evaluated on plasma samples with residual red blood cell content (1, 3, 5% hematocrit) corresponding to output from existing hydrodynamic BPS systems. Commercially available membranes for BPS were used as benchmark. Results highlighted that the electrospun membranes are suitable for downstream residual cell removal from blood, permitting the collection of up to 2 mL of pure and low-hemolyzed plasma. Fluorometric DNA quantification revealed that electrospun membranes did not significantly affect the concentration of circulating DNA. PLA-based electrospun membranes can be combined with hydrodynamic BPS in order to achieve high volume plasma separation at over 99% plasma purity.
ISSN:2077-0375
2077-0375
DOI:10.3390/membranes11090680