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Cell Microsystems Acquires Fluxion Biosciences to Broaden Cell Analysis Product and Services Portfolio. Read the Press Release

At Fluxion, we’re passionate about delivering cell-based solutions that facilitate the transformation of research discoveries into new ways to diagnose and treat patients. By characterizing molecular and cellular mechanisms of disease, Fluxion’s platforms help bridge the translational medicine gap, enabling rapid advances in disease research, drug discovery, and the development of diagnostic tests.

Sickle Cell Disease

and preclinical drug validation

Since the early 1900s, there has only been one FDA-approved therapy for the prevention of SCD-related complications. Fortunately, this is an historic moment in sickle cell discovery, with the largest pipeline of promising SCD-specific drugs in preclinical and clinical trials in the history of the disease. In addition to targeting hemoglobin polymerization, many of these drugs target the unique erythrocyte adhesive properties that contribute to microvascular obstruction.  Despite this, there is no clinical standard for assessing erythrocyte adhesion. SCD providers will soon have drugs available to prevent and relieve adhesion-mediated complications, therefore there is an urgent need diagnostic tools to guide drug selection for individual patients and monitor therapeutic response.

By using BioFlux, flow adhesion assays for SCD are made easy. The system can be utilized to understand the adhesive properties of sickle erythrocytes in a simulated blood flow environment, and the process is currently being worked on to be standardize for clinical testing. In fact, a US company (Functional Fluidics) has deployed a standardized microfluidic flow-based test into the preclinical and clinical research market. The advances in microfluidic flow-based blood function testing with BioFlux play a crucial role in preclinical drug validation, the potential for applications in sickle cell clinical trials, and ultimately clinical therapy. 

scd

Functionalized BioFlux flow channels were used to analyze eryptotic erythrocytes adhering to VWF fibers (Nicolay et al., 2018).

 

Microfluidic Flow-Based Diagnostics Used to Personalize SCD Therapy

Webinar discussing advances in microfluidic flow-based blood function testing, the role these tests are play in preclinical drug validation, and the potential for applications in sickle cell clinical trials and ultimately clinical therapy.

 

Key BioFlux Advantages For SCD Studies

  • Utilize pulsatile flow function, where the shear force can oscillate from 0 to 200 dyne/cm² when using the high shear well plate

  • Analyze shear-dependent cellular responses, such as sickle erythrocyte (SSBRC) adhesion to the endothelium

  • Test for novel anti-adhesion compounds in a high throughput context

  • Time to perform an entire adhesion experiment from plate coating to data collection is reduced to 3 hours (in comparison to 6-18 hours for a standard microplate adhesion inhibition assay)

Publications & Posters

Webinars

Hematology Webinars from BioFlux User Meeting

Speakers: Dr. Patrick Hines, Functional Fluidics and Kunal...