Recent advances in microfluidic platelet function assays: Moving microfluidics into clinical applications

Abstract

Theanalysisofplateletaggregation and thrombosis kinetics has significantlyadvancedwith progress inmicrofluidictechnology. However, the results ofplateletaggregation tests do not fully reflect the observedclinicaloutcomes. To address the present unmetclinicalneeds, the basic but essential biology ofplateletsshould be reconsidered in relation to the characteristics ofmicrofluidicsystems employed forplatelettests. To this end, the present article provides an overview of commercially available point of care devices and focuses onrecentmicrofluidicstudies, describing their measurement principles. We critically discuss the characteristics of themicrofluidicssystems used to evaluate the complex processes underlyingplateletaggregation, and that are specifically designed to mimic the pathophysiological environment ofbloodvessels, including hemodynamic factors as well asbloodvessel injury. To this end, we summarize unsolved issues related to the application ofplateletfunctiontests based onmicrofluidics. Overall, we confirm thatplateletfunctiontests based onmicrofluidicsprovide a versatile platform that encompasses a variety of basic research, as well asclinicaldiagnosticapplications.