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Acoustic plasma separation in the AcouTrap system by enhanced sedimentation

Liljenberg, Marcus LU (2021) KIMM05 20211
Department of Immunotechnology
Abstract
Three novel ways of producing small volumes of blood plasma for either a Point of Care or automated application were developed and evaluated based on their usability. Development was based on the trapping unit of the acoustofluidic AcouTrap system by AcouSort AB, Sweden. By trapping cells and clumping them together, increased sedimentation speeds of whole blood cells was achieved, based on the previously studied phenomenon called “enhanced sedimentation”. Plasma volumes between 12 - 20 μL were produced in 15 minutes, and was purified from red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells by on average 98.7%, with up to 99.99% removal of red blood cells. In order to assess the plasma quality in a possible application, the plasma was tested... (More)
Three novel ways of producing small volumes of blood plasma for either a Point of Care or automated application were developed and evaluated based on their usability. Development was based on the trapping unit of the acoustofluidic AcouTrap system by AcouSort AB, Sweden. By trapping cells and clumping them together, increased sedimentation speeds of whole blood cells was achieved, based on the previously studied phenomenon called “enhanced sedimentation”. Plasma volumes between 12 - 20 μL were produced in 15 minutes, and was purified from red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells by on average 98.7%, with up to 99.99% removal of red blood cells. In order to assess the plasma quality in a possible application, the plasma was tested in an antibody detection ELISA kit for presence of Hepatitis B antibodies, proving the plasma to be of good enough quality. Based on this, it was concluded that whole blood separation into plasma could be performed in the AcouTrap system, and that it could be used as an Original Equipment Manufacturer part for a Point of Care application. (Less)
Popular Abstract
Popular Science Summary
Development of a small new plasma generation method useful for faster diagnosis at medical centers.

A small new device for plasma separation from blood was developed. Using very small blood volumes, it could be used for delivering faster medical diagnosis results, and could easily be automated and incorporated into a tabletop analysis device.

When we are ill, we go to a medical center and ask: “What is wrong with me?”. We also expect an answer to our question, preferably before we leave. A fast and accurate diagnosis at an early stage is often expected by patients, if it is possible to do so. There is also a medical gain to be made in faster diagnosis, enabling earlier and better treatment actions to be... (More)
Popular Science Summary
Development of a small new plasma generation method useful for faster diagnosis at medical centers.

A small new device for plasma separation from blood was developed. Using very small blood volumes, it could be used for delivering faster medical diagnosis results, and could easily be automated and incorporated into a tabletop analysis device.

When we are ill, we go to a medical center and ask: “What is wrong with me?”. We also expect an answer to our question, preferably before we leave. A fast and accurate diagnosis at an early stage is often expected by patients, if it is possible to do so. There is also a medical gain to be made in faster diagnosis, enabling earlier and better treatment actions to be started in time.

Many of the diagnosis tools available today are based on blood plasma, which is the liquid part of our blood. Usually, a blood sample is sent to a regional center for analysis, where it is centrifuged to gain access to its plasma, and used for finding out what might be wrong with you. Some days later a test result is sent to the medical center, and you might have to revisit it to begin treatment. If good quality plasma could instead be produced and tested while you wait at the medical center, it would significantly shorten diagnosis time and appropriate treatment actions could be started earlier. That could in severe cases save someone’s life.

To solve this need for faster diagnosis, a faster and easier plasma generation device has been developed from the existing AcouTrap cell trapping device by AcouSort AB. The developed device produced plasma by clumping cells together and thereby making them sink faster, with a technique called acoustofluidic trapping. Acoustofluidic trapping is a technique that can aggregate cells by exposing them to sound of certain frequencies, which increases the sedimentation speed of cells. The device used a small blood sample of 120 µL to produce 12 – 20 µL plasma in 15 minutes. The quality of the plasma was tested by determining concentrations of common blood cells such as red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells by flow cytometry. Plasma from a previously Hepatitis B vaccinated donor was also generated and tested for presence of antibodies against Hepatitis B, where a comparison between normal centrifuged plasma and plasma from the developed device was made. It was concluded that the developed device reduced blood cell concentration to a high degree, and that the plasma quality was good enough for use in a Hepatitis B antibody detection application.

Since the developed device was no bigger than the size of a human thumb and built on the automated sample handling of the AcouTrap, it could potentially be incorporated into a small tabletop device at a medical center. Only a very small blood sample would then need to be taken from patients, and could be inserted directly into the device for plasma generation. Analysis of the plasma could then be performed in a built-in testing solution, delivering faster results to patients and doctors. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Liljenberg, Marcus LU
supervisor
organization
course
KIMM05 20211
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
acoustofluidic, acoustic, enhanced, sedimentation, flow, cytometry
language
English
id
9065366
date added to LUP
2021-09-14 13:18:48
date last changed
2021-09-14 13:18:48
@misc{9065366,
  abstract     = {{Three novel ways of producing small volumes of blood plasma for either a Point of Care or automated application were developed and evaluated based on their usability. Development was based on the trapping unit of the acoustofluidic AcouTrap system by AcouSort AB, Sweden. By trapping cells and clumping them together, increased sedimentation speeds of whole blood cells was achieved, based on the previously studied phenomenon called “enhanced sedimentation”. Plasma volumes between 12 - 20 μL were produced in 15 minutes, and was purified from red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells by on average 98.7%, with up to 99.99% removal of red blood cells. In order to assess the plasma quality in a possible application, the plasma was tested in an antibody detection ELISA kit for presence of Hepatitis B antibodies, proving the plasma to be of good enough quality. Based on this, it was concluded that whole blood separation into plasma could be performed in the AcouTrap system, and that it could be used as an Original Equipment Manufacturer part for a Point of Care application.}},
  author       = {{Liljenberg, Marcus}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Acoustic plasma separation in the AcouTrap system by enhanced sedimentation}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}