# Platelet Production in a Pulmonary-based Microfluidic Reactor

> **NIH NIH R43** · FLUXION BIOSCIENCES, INC. · 2020 · $308,559

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Platelet transfusions are used to treat deficiencies in platelet number and/or function that is seen in multiple
clinical settings such as cancer and post trauma. Given changing demographics and an increasing reliance on
platelet transfusion in modern medicine, its is likely that donor-derived platelets to provide this care may prove
inadequate in the near future. The generation of large numbers of physiologically viable platelets in-vitro is
intended to provide a new treatment option for such patients with platelet deficies. Starting with mega-
karyocytes (Megs), platelet release (thrombopoiesis) is driven by shear forces typically found in the
vasculatures. Previous approaches were aimed at mimicking platelet production in the bone marrow as Megs
emerge from the intramedullary space into the blood stream, but new research points to significant platelet
production by Megs embedded in the lung. This proposal is aimed at taking advantage of this discovery to
improve both our understanding of thrombopoiesis and our ability to produce platelets in vitro focused on
mimicking the particular properties of the pulmonary microvasculature.
There are four aims in this application: Aim 1: Produce and test devices recapitulating the pulmonary
vascular bed. Several different will be manufactured to entrap Megs and allow thrombopoiesis to occur. Aim
2: Design and test a system for platelet production under lung-mimetic mechanical strain. We will use
flexible microfluidic layers will b. Aim 3: Design and test a system for temporal control of O2 concentration
within the reactor. Switching from a low to high O2 partial will be achieved to replicated physiological changes
in the lung. Aim 4: Optimize the combined effects of lung model parameters and test platelet functional
performance. The final microfluidic devices using all of the optimal parameter determined will be tested by
infusions of Megs and measurement of the efficacy to produce platelet-like particles that physically and
functionally match that of freshly-drawn donor-derived platelets.
Phase I research is intended to validate a consumable compatible with existing controllers that can we used
widely to study platelet production lung microenvironment by controlling cappillary, shear forces, defomation of
capillary bed and gas concentration. If successful, a scale-up to a clinically feasible platelet production reactor
will be attepted in Phase II. This work represents a collaboration between a bioengineering company that has
been supplying microfluidic research systems for the study of platelet function and a laboratory that are domain
experts in the treatment of platelet disorders.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9907840
- **Project number:** 1R43HL150946-01
- **Recipient organization:** FLUXION BIOSCIENCES, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** ALI YEHIA
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $308,559
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-06-01 → 2021-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9907840

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9907840, Platelet Production in a Pulmonary-based Microfluidic Reactor (1R43HL150946-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9907840. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*