Sensing Platform for Computational and Experimental Analysis of Blood Cell Mechanical Stress and Activation in Microfluidics

Mechanical damage of blood cells and thus their activation are well known issues in extracorporeal and laboratory bio-fluidics applications. However, standard analysis methods, like hemolysis and inflammatory protein marker measurements, require high sample volumes and are not suitable for microfluidics. To monitor the cell response and quantify the mechanical stimulation during microfluidic perfusion we developed a platform including computational and experimental analysis of the microfluidic system. The theoretical approach includes continuum fluid dynamics of whole blood and simulations of single cells immersed in blood plasma; while the experimental part consists on the real time measurement of intracellular calcium concentration as early marker of cell activation. Our approach can be used to ensure that cell microfluidic applications do not cause non-physiological mechanical stress on blood cells.