RRI scientists develop affordable device for preliminary screening of sickle cell disease

Image for representation purposes only.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

Scientists at Raman Research Institute (RRI) have developed an affordable electro-fluidic device that aids in preliminary screening of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).

According to RRI, the innovative, cost-effective electro-fluidic micropore device, quantifies whole-cell stiffness with high-resolution and high-throughput, with specific focus on screening for SCD.

“This technology has the potential to change preliminary diagnostic methods for blood disorders,” RRI said.

Gautam Soni, S. Kaushik, and A. Mishra from the Soft Condensed Matter Theme at RRI, Bengaluru developed this device and R. Ross, S. Srivastava, and C. R. Ross from St. Johns Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru helped with testing the device on real-world samples by comparing blood cells from SCD patients to that of healthy donors.

High resolution measurement

“This new technology makes high-resolution measurement on changes in RBC physiology and cell stiffness and connects it to the underlying disease-state” said Gautam Soni, Lead Investigator.

RRI said that the researchers were able to create a system that effectively differentiates SCD and healthy donor RBCs, due to differences in their inherent stiffness with high precision.

“They studied the samples in free-flight and constricted-flight modes to measure cell volume and stiffness, respectively. They used Latrunculin A (an actin inhibitor, that reduces cell stiffness) treated RBCs, to first quantify the correlation between flight time in the micropore and cellular stiffness,” RRI said.

Using the above methodology, they showed that their device allows for the rapid alternative detection of mechanical abnormalities in RBCs and hence, can act as a preliminary screening device for multiple blood conditions.

“The portability and cost-efficiency of the device would make it an attractive option for mass-screening leading to early detection of SCD in both rural and urban areas of the country,” RRI said.

Cell stiffness

It further said whole cell stiffness, being a ubiquitous parameter for cell’s health, may be applied beyond SCD screening, such as, in areas of tumor cell detection and veterinary blood disorders.

“The device principle has possible non-medical applications as well, for example, in improving the hydrogel materials used in drug delivery systems,” RRI said.