Descripción del proyecto
Tecnología de sonido para el análisis de diagnóstico de componentes sanguíneos
Las tecnologías de microescala permiten obtener resultados en unos minutos a partir de pequeñas muestras de sangre, lo cual representa un cambio de los servicios de laboratorio centralizados a los análisis de diagnóstico inmediato. La elevada precisión de los métodos microfluídicos podría allanar el camino para un aislamiento rápido y automatizado de poblaciones celulares poco frecuentes, como las células tumorales circulantes, los patógenos y las vesículas extracelulares. Este proyecto financiado con fondos europeos empleará una tecnología a microescala basada en ultrasonidos para acceder a componentes sanguíneos poco frecuentes e importantes desde el punto de vista diagnóstico. Para separar de forma eficaz y rápida los componentes sanguíneos, los investigadores utilizarán fuerzas de radiación acústica en un formato de flujo continuo. El proyecto aportará nuevos conocimientos fundamentales sobre las propiedades acústicas de las células individuales y su posible valor diagnóstico, con el fin de obtener una nueva generación de tecnologías de diagnóstico inmediato.
Objetivo
In this project we will push the limits of microscale ultrasound-based technology to gain access to diagnostically important rare constituents of blood within minutes from blood draw.
To meet the demands for shorter time from sampling to result in healthcare there is an increased interest to shift from heavy centralized lab equipment to point-of-care tests and patient self-testing. Key challenges with point-of-care equipment is to enable simultaneous measurement of many parameters at a reasonable cost and size of equipment. Therefore, microscale technologies that can take in small amounts of blood and output results within minutes are sought for. In addition, the high precision and potential for multi-stage serial processing offered by such microfluidic methods opens up for fast and automated isolation of rare cell populations, such as circulating tumor cells, and controlled high-throughput size fractionation of sub-micron biological particles, such as platelets, pathogens and extracellular vesicles.
To achieve effective and fast separation of blood components we will expose blood to acoustic radiation forces in a flow-through format. By exploiting a newly discovered acoustic body force, that stems from local variations the acoustic properties of the cell suspension, we can generate self-organizing configurations of the blood cells. We will tailor and tune the acoustic cell-organization in novel ways by time modulation of the acoustic field, by altering the acoustic properties of the fluid by solute molecules, and by exploiting a novel concept of sound interaction with thermal gradients.
The project will render new fundamental knowledge regarding the acoustic properties of single cells and an extensive theoretical framework for the response of cells in any aqueous medium, bounding geometry and sound field, potentially leading to new diagnostic methods.
Ámbito científico
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
ERC-STG - Starting GrantInstitución de acogida
22100 Lund
Suecia