Microfluidic cell sorting - A new approach towards implantable artificial lungs

体外肺辅助（ECLA）是急性肺衰竭患者的救命措施。尽管最近的ECLA设备有了一些改进（例如抗凝血涂层、减少剪切应力、小型化），但该技术仍然容易出现各种并发症。在膜上形成血栓仍然是最关键的事件之一。为了达到人工肺辅助（ALA）技术的下一个水平，需要新的概念，旨在实现长期血液相容和可植入的人工肺。在SPP 2014中，该项目的目标是将微流体细胞分选技术作为ALA研究的基本新策略。作为可行性证明，我们开发了一种细胞分选装置，该装置已经能够从分配给再氧合的剩余血流中分离高达73%的血小板。在这个分三个阶段的项目中，我们的目标是将第一个细胞分选装置推进到ALA系统的血小板旁路，这将减少血小板与氧合器膜的接触，并使血小板在膜肺通道(a)后与再氧合血重新统一。这将限制凝血和炎症的激活，并最终在膜上形成血栓。将在体外（Mock Loop， B）和小鼠ECLA模型(C)中评估这种基于微流体的ALA系统的凝血激活和气体输送特性。

Extracorporeal lung assist (ECLA) is a life saving measure for patients suffering from acute pulmonary failure. Despite several improvements of recent ECLA devices (e.g. anticoagulant coatings, reduced shear stress, miniaturization), the technology is still prone to diverse complications. Thrombus formation on the membrane is still one of the most critical events. New concepts are needed to reach the next level in artificial lung assist (ALA) technology, aiming towards long term hemocompatible and implantable artificial lungs. Within the SPP 2014 this project targets the implementation of microfluidic cell sorting technology as a fundamental new strategy in ALA research. As a feasibility proof we developed a cell sorting device which already enables platelet separation of up to 73% from the remaining blood flow assigned for re-oxygenation. In this three staged project, we aim at the advancement of the first cell sorting device to a platelet-bypass for ALA systems which should reduce platelet contact to the oxygenator membrane, and enable reunification of the platelets with the re-oxygenated blood after the membrane lung passage (A). This should limit coagulation-, and inflammation activation, and finally thrombus formation on the membrane. The coagulation activating and gas transport properties of such a microfluidic-based ALA system will be assess in vitro (Mock Loop, B) and in vivo in a mouse ECLA model (C).