Investigating the effect of storage on the electrophoretic mobility μe of human red blood cells using a Polydimethysiloxane-fabricated microfluidic device

Abstract

The efficacy of human red blood cell (hRBC) for transfusion stored at prolonged period can be projected and investigated from the cell’s response to an applied electric potential (i.e. the electrophoretic mobility) [1-5]. Using a Polydimethylsiloxane-fabricated microfluidic device, the electrophoretic mobility of hRBCs (from blood type O) suspended in Phosphate buffered saline (PBS) decreased 49% at the end of 35-day storage duration; This suggests that prolonged storage period contributes to various physiological changes of the cell which can be associated to the reduced viability and underlying potential risks of transfusion.