This research further investigates how molecular expression on red blood cell membranes alters the dielectric properties, which are discernable in a dielectrophoretic microdevice. The immediate application for this scientific finding is that ABO-Rh blood types, which are morphologically similar cells whose phenotype differs only by expression of a polysaccharide surface antigen exhibit different polarization responses. A secondary application for this finding is to use the baseline ABO-Rh responses to determine if the blood is in a diseased state. Future progress will correct remaining deficiencies in knowledge and commercialize-able practicality of the ABO-Rh blood typing device by 1) identifying the greatest commercial utility in discerning molecular expression for medical diagnostics, 2) experimentally achieving unique signatures for every combination of the eight blood types (A+, B+, AB+, O+, A-, B-, AB-, and O-), 3) demonstrating via antigen modification, the scientific basis for the ABO/Rh antigen?s impact on the effective polarizability of the blood cell and thus the observed dielectrophoretic response. This work is a significant addition to scientific knowledge and is a powerful alternative to antigen/antibody molecular recognition reactions for medical diagnosis. Thus, this electric field mediated approach enables more rapid analysis without perishable reagents.
Current medical diagnosis relies on expensive and time-consuming blood tests in centralized analytical laboratories. The research team's electrokinetic microdevice technology could replace off-line lab analysis with significantly less-expensive point-of-care devices featuring user-friendly operation that produces rapid results with equivalent reliability. There are currently 84 million blood typings per year in the U.S., 16 million donations, and current protocols require 4 or more tests to minimize fatal transfusions. Current technology cost ~$95 per test, while the electrokinetic approach could cost as low as $5 (reusable) $10 (single-use) per test. This technology has the potential to streamline preparations during emergency blood transfusions, while reducing overhead and costs. It also has the potential to take blood typing outside of the traditional medical laboratory and into the hands of emergency medical personnel such as EMTs and third world health organizations.
This I-Corps experience was based upon the scientific progress from NSF Award CBET 0644538 (MS State) & 1041338 (Michigan Tech) entitled "CAREER: ABO Blood Antigen Dielectrophoresis for Medical Diagnostics: Synergy with Desktop Experiment Modules (DEMos)." The research had demonstrated that blood types (A+, B+, AB+, O+, A-, B-, AB-, and O-) could be distinguished in a microdevice without antibodies. Antibody recognition is the current technology used in hospitals. Our team completed, during the I-Corps training experience, 112 customer interviews to learn which sectors of the medical community were interested in this technology and which ones preferred to remain with the traditional antibody reaction approach. Our team also learned the best value propositions for this technology - namely that the device is portable, rapid, inexpensive, and robust since it does not require the antibody reagents. We all were effectively trained on the business canvas approach and made extensive contacts within the medical devices community to help us move this technology along the path to commercialization. The intellectual merits of this project is that scientific knowledge and exploration yielded a powerful and commercially viable alternative to antigen/antibody molecular recognition reactions for medical diagnosis. The broader impacts of this work are evident from the 84 million blood typings per year in the U.S., 16 million donations, and current protocols require 4 or more tests to minimize fatal transfusions. Current technology cost ~$95 per test, while our approach could cost less than $10 per test. This would drive down the cost of health care and enable more cost efficient blood typing checks of the blood supply. This project aided in the development of the entreprenuerial lead as well as the growth of the principle investigator and team mentor. Our team entreprenuerial lead also earned the teaching award from the teaching team.
