Microfluidic Systems for Assessment of Platelet Aggregates on Exposure to Hydrogen Sulfide and Acetylcysteine

INTRODUCTION: Since platelets play the central part in the process of hemostasis, understanding their role in thrombus initiation and development is a key to the study of both normal and pathological hemostasis. However, the natural environment of blood coagulation is inherently heterogeneous making it difficult to determine the underlying mechanisms regulating platelet behavior. Highly controlled studies using microfluidic systems are important in understanding the behavior of platelets on exposure to pathogenic exogenous factors and in the choice of selective means of protection against them. Thus, the study of pathological blood clotting in the context of exposure to hydrogen sulfide is relevant. Studying the mechanism of formation of platelet aggregates on exposure to the given pollutant and acetylcysteine will permit to use the latter as a specific means to correct platelet dysfunction. AIM: Assessment of platelet aggregation ability in hydrogen sulfide environment with the possibility of correction with acetylcysteine using microfluidic system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Microfluidic chips were manufactured using 3D stereo-lithography method on LCD printer from optically-transparent polymer resin. The study material was platelet-rich plasma of male laboratory rats. The interaction of blood platelets was modeled with donor hydrogen sulfide (Na2S) solution and L-acetylcysteine (ACC). The formation of aggregates in chip microchannels was assessed using an optical microscope and software means. RESULTS: Hypofunction of platelets was noted (based on the data of filling the lumens of microfluidic channels and the size of platelet aggregates) on the interaction with hydrogen sulfide, and close to control values of reaction with acetylcysteine and more active formation of aggregates under the action of ‘hydrogen sulfide + acetylcysteine’. High reproducibility and quality of manufactured chips were achieved. The materials used permitted to design the optimal geometry of microchannels to model the interaction of platelets with environmental factors. On the resulting images, platelet aggregates of different shapes and sizes were visualized in the channels of microfluidic chips. CONCLUSION: Acetylcysteine has a preconditioning effect on platelets in the presence of aggregation inhibitor hydrogen sulfide. The method of microfluidic chip manufacture adapted by us, showed good results in terms of the quantity and quality of copies, consumed time and cost.