# Label-free blood cell separation for space health monitoring using a portable blast cell biochip

## TL;DR

A portable microfluidic chip can separate blood cells without labels, enabling health monitoring in space.

## Contribution

The first protocol for label-free isolation of leukemic blasts using a spiral microfluidic chip not designed for blood analysis.

## Key findings

- The chip efficiently separates red and white blood cells from healthy donors and enriches pathological blasts from AML patient blood.
- Experimental and computational results showed strong agreement with less than 1% relative error.
- The device is suitable for microgravity-compatible conditions, supporting health monitoring in space missions.

## Abstract

We demonstrate a novel biomedical application of a commercial spiral microfluidic chip (Fluidic 382), originally developed for particle sorting, by repurposing it for label-free, size-based isolation of pathological blood cells, including leukemic blasts from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) samples. For the first time, we establish and validate a streamlined protocol for cell separation using Dean-driven hydrodynamic forces in a chip not originally designed for blood analysis. Using a 9-turn, 6-outlet spiral channel configuration, we achieved high-efficiency sorting of red and white blood cells from healthy donors and selectively enriched pathological blasts from AML patient blood. The device’s performance was validated through flow cytometry and numerical simulations, demonstrating strong agreement between experimental and computational results with less than 1% relative error. With its compact footprint, reagent-free operation, and automation potential, this method represents a significant advance toward point-of-care blood diagnostics in extreme environments, particularly space missions. The chip’s ability to separate pathological cells in microgravity-compatible conditions offers a promising route for real-time astronaut health monitoring, supporting early detection and mitigation of radiation-induced haematological disorders such as AML.