Real-time measurement of thrombin generation using continuous droplet microfluidics.

Thrombin, which has the leading role in the blood coagulation cascade, is an important biomarker in hemostasis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) development. In this study, a measurement system capable of continuously monitoring individual thrombin generation using droplet microfluidic technology is manipulated. The thrombin generation assay based on fluogenic substrate is performed within the droplets and the thrombin generation curve of plasma sample activated by tissue factor is measured in real-time to reflect the sample conditions dynamically. The injection of the inhibitor of thrombin generation is developed to assay the inhibited curve which relates to thrombin self-inhibition in biological systems. This microfluidic system is integrated with the microdialysis probe, which is useful to connect to the living animals for future in vivo real time thrombin measurements for rapid CVD diagnosis.