Fishing for rare cells in blood samples

A multi-stage microfluidic device separated tumour or leukaemic cells spiked into blood with high efficiency.  A filtration stage removed cell aggregates and debris.  Then a carefully designed microfluidic channel generated hydrodynamic forces which focussed the larger cancer cells into the channel centre; smaller blood cells were separated off.  The central fluid component entered a third steric hindrance region which further purified the rare cells by their size and mechanical properties. 

High-throughput rare cell separation from blood samples using steric hindrance and inertial microfluidics; S. Chen et al, Lab on a Chip; DOI: 10.1039/c3lc51384j

http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2014/lc/c3lc51384j#!divAbstract 

Vascularised hydrogels

Researchers have created networks of microchannels in a variety of hydrogels using a micromolding strategy.   Networks of channels enhanced osteogenic cell viability and differentiation in cell-laden micromolded gels.  The channels could be lined with a confluent layer of endothelial cells to create an engineered vasculature.  The hydrogels remained fully perfused. 

Hydrogel Bioprinted Microchannel Networks for Vascularization of Tissue Engineering Constructs; L.E.Bertassoni et al, Lab on a Chip, DOI: 10.1039/C4LC00030G

http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2014/lc/c4lc00030g#!divAbstract

Bone marrow on a chip

Bone marrow grown within a device implanted in a mouse resembles natural marrow, researchers reported.  The tissue could be explanted whole, inserted into a lab-on-a-chip and maintained in vitro for 7 days.  The cultured marrow mimicked tissue responses to radiation toxicity and treatment for exposure normally only observed in vivo.

Bone marrow-on-a-chip replicates hematopoietic niche physiology in vitro; Y-S Torisawa et al; Nature Methods AOP doi:10.1038/nmeth.2938

http://www.nature.com/nmeth/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nmeth.2938.html

Lab-on-a-chip based blood plasma separation

Researchers have developed a cheap microfluidic device to separate plasma from whole blood with efficiency similar to centrifugation.  A filter at the top of a channel with blood flowing upwards separated the fluid phase from the cells. Gravity-assisted sedimentation prevented cells clogging the filter and subsequent hemolysis.

Hemolysis-free blood plasma separation, JH Son et al, Lab-on-a-chip, 2014, Accepted Manuscript, DOI: 10.1039/C4LC00149D

Link to article:

http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2014/LC/C4LC00149D?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2FLC+(RSC+-+Lab+Chip+latest+articles)#!divAbstract