Dynamical Analysis of the Inhibitory Effect of Aspirin and Clopidogrel on Platelet Adhesion and Aggregation for Healthy People under Physiological Flow Condition by Microfluidic Chip Technology / 中国医学科学院学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the inhibitory effect of aspirin and clopidogrel on platelet adhesion and aggregation behaviors under the physiological flow condition using microfluidic chip technology for health volunteers. Methods Peripheral venous blood samples collected from twelve randomly recruited health volunteers were treated with 20 μmol/L acetylsalicylic acid,50 μmol/L 2-methlthioadenosine-5'-monophosphate triethylammonium salt,and their combination,respectively,with untreated blood samples being control group. The blood samples were flowed through a microchannel modified with type I collagen protein at a physiological relevant shear rate of 1000 s for 300 s,while the fluorescent images of platelet aggregations were dynamic captured using a microscope. Based on the images,the platelet coverage rates were calculated and used as quantitative parameters for evaluating platelet adhesion and aggregation behaviors. Results Under a flow condition of 1000 s shear rate,an expected in vivo-like platelet adhesion and aggregation behaviors were observed at the surfaces of collagen proteins for control blood samples. Aspirin alone or clopidogrel alone suppressed platelet adhesion and aggregation at the later period of flow(200-300 s),while the combination of aspirin and clopidogrel reduced the adhesion numbers of platelets at the earlier stage of flow(≤150 s) and compromised the stability of platelet aggregation at the later period of flow(200-300 s). The combination showed synergistic effect in inhibiting platelet aggregation. Furthermore,such inhibitory effect was heterogeneous among 12 volunteers. Conclusion This simple microfluidic technology can offer a new technical platform for analyzing the inhibitory effect of antiplatelet drugs.