Researchers at the University of California in the US, Dublin City University in Ireland and Universidad de Valparaíso in Chile have developed a blood analysis chip that could help to diagnose disease.
The Self-powered Integrated Microfluidic Blood Analysis System (SIMBAS) can process whole blood samples without the use of external tubing and extra components.
The SIMBAS biochip has trenches patterned beneath microfluidic channels; when whole blood is dropped onto the chip’ inlets, the red and white blood cells settle down into the trenches, separating from the clear blood plasma.
In experiments, researchers were able to capture more than 99% the blood cells in the trenches and selectively separate plasma.
The device uses the laws of microscale physics to speed up the blood analysis.
According to researchers, the SIMBAS platform may create an effective molecular diagnostic biochip platform for cancer, cardiac disease, sepsis and other diseases.
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