# Centrifugation-free washing and volume-reduction of platelet concentrate units using high-throughput microfluidic technology

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON · 2020 · $191,250

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Approximately 2 million units of platelet (PLT) concentrate (PC) are transfused in the U.S. every year to treat or
prevent bleeding complications. A typical PC unit collected via apheresis contains a therapeutic dose of PLTs
suspended in 200-400mL of plasma. The residual plasma is needed to maintain PLT viability during storage
but has no therapeutic value and can be harmful to some patients. Plasma is therefore often removed from PC
units to reduce transfusion volume in order to prevent transfusion associated circulatory overload in very young
patients (fetuses, neonates) or in adults needing multiple PLT transfusions. PC units are `washed' to replace
plasma with isotonic media to prevent adverse outcomes in patients with a history of severe allergic reactions
to plasma proteins, infants with neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia, and in cases of ABO non-identical
transfusions. PC washing may also reduce the risk of transfusion-related acute lung injury, and early mortality
in acute promyelocytic leukemia. In current practice, PC units are volume-reduced using a large-capacity
centrifuge, or washed using a centrifugation-based automated cell processer, by a hospital blood bank.
Centrifugation, however, subjects PLTs to substantial shear forces and physical compaction during pelleting,
which decreases PLT quality (as indicated by drastically increased activation, reduced aggregability, distorted
shape, and release of granule contents). This proposal will establish the feasibility of using novel high-
throughput microfluidic technology known as `controlled incremental filtration' (CIF) for volume-reduction and/or
washing of PC, without the significant loss of PLT quality and logistical limitations associated with conventional
centrifugation-based processes. We have previously developed several CIF-based devices for leukoreduction
and concentration of platelets from platelet-rich plasma, with minimal activation, at practical volumetric
throughputs, within a very compact footprint. Here we will demonstrate the feasibility of this approach by
completing two complementary aims with scope ranging from iterative design optimization and validation work,
to testing the quality of volume-reduced and washed PLTs produced by the prototype CIF-based filtration
module. First we will optimize the CIF design parameters to (i) maximize the ability of a device to concentrate
PLTs with activation and recovery metrics superior to those of centrifugation, and (ii) further expand the
capability of the CIF module to also remove residual leukocytes and existing PLT clumps from the stored PC
product. Second, we will evaluate the effect of volume-reduction and washing with the CIF device prototype on
PLT quality in a split-unit study, using conventional centrifugation-based volume-reduction and washing (in
normal saline) as controls. By completing this research, we will develop a functional prototype and generate
sufficient in vitro data to support further ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9872491
- **Project number:** 1R21HL150154-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Sergey S Shevkoplyas
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $191,250
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2019-12-15 → 2021-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9872491

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9872491, Centrifugation-free washing and volume-reduction of platelet concentrate units using high-throughput microfluidic technology (1R21HL150154-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-14 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9872491. Licensed CC0.

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