Emerging microengineered tools for functional analysis and phenotyping of blood cells

Xiang Li; Weiqiang Chen; Zida Li; Ling Li; Hongchen Gu; Jianping Fu

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2014.09.003

Emerging microengineered tools for functional analysis and phenotyping of blood cells

Trends Biotechnol. 2014 Nov;32(11):586-594. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2014.09.003. Epub 2014 Oct 2.

Authors

Xiang Li¹, Weiqiang Chen¹, Zida Li¹, Ling Li², Hongchen Gu³, Jianping Fu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Integrated Biosystems and Biomechanics Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
² Department of Precision Instruments, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
³ School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China.
⁴ Integrated Biosystems and Biomechanics Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

The available techniques for assessing blood cell functions are limited considering the various types of blood cell and their diverse functions. In the past decade, rapid advances in microengineering have enabled an array of blood cell functional measurements that are difficult or impossible to achieve using conventional bulk platforms. Such miniaturized blood cell assay platforms also provide the attractive capabilities of reducing chemical consumption, cost, and assay time, as well as exciting opportunities for device integration, automation, and assay standardization. This review summarizes these contemporary microengineered tools and discusses their promising potential for constructing accurate in vitro models and rapid clinical diagnosis using minimal amounts of whole-blood samples.

Keywords: blood cell; functional analysis; microengineering; microfluidics; phenotyping.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review

MeSH terms

Blood Cells / cytology*
Blood Cells / physiology*
Cytological Techniques / instrumentation*
Cytological Techniques / methods*
Diagnostic Tests, Routine / methods*
Humans
Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / methods*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding