Microfluidics

Since blood is a moving biological fluid in vivo, it is important to study thrombosis formation in vitro under physiological flow conditions.;To achieve this objective, we seek to develop methods that meet the following criteria in an attempt to mimic in vivo fluid dynamics, molecular transport, and biochemistry: 1) flow channels with physiologically relevant length scales, 2) the ability to introduce soluble molecules with spatial and temporal control, and 3) the ability to pattern surface molecules with spatial control. These criteria can be achieved using standard microfluidic methods. In addition, the small size of microfluidic channels can be utilized to measure hundreds of physical and biochemical interactions on a single device during a single experiment. This feature of microfluidics lends itself to combinatorial studies of pro- and anti-coagulant molecules that are typically done in well-plate assays under static conditions.

The Diamond Lab has developed a novel membrane based microfluidic device for studying the flux of pro-coagulant molecules (thrombin, ADP, thromboxane A2) into flowing blood. This device is being used to characterize fibrin formation as a function of thrombin flux and to investigate the stability of thrombi formed under varying agonist combinations.

Publications