Innovative Portable Device Enables High-Quality Platelet-Rich Plasma Extraction

Recent advancements in medical technology have introduced a novel, cost-effective, and portable system capable of producing high-quality platelet-rich plasma (PRP) directly from whole blood. Traditionally, obtaining PRP involved centrifugation techniques that are not only expensive but can also prematurely activate platelets, diminishing their therapeutic potential.

A research team led by Ikerbasque Research Professor Lourdes Basabe and Fernando Benito from the University of the Basque Country has developed a device that isolates PRP without the need for complex machinery. This innovative system leverages gravity sedimentation, a well-known physical process where denser components settle at the bottom of a container under gravity, to efficiently separate PRP from blood. The design incorporates laser-cut acrylic sheets and specialized adhesives, which allows for low-cost manufacturing.

This device can extract approximately 300 microliters of PRP from one milliliter of blood in just 40 minutes, significantly simplifying the process and reducing handling time. Notably, the system minimizes platelet activation to only 8.2%, compared to 31% with conventional methods, while maintaining the average volume of platelets vital for effective therapy. It also effectively eliminates 98% of red blood cells and 96% of white blood cells, ensuring a purified PRP sample. Furthermore, the system’s modular design allows adjustment based on different blood volumes, maintaining consistent efficiency.

This portable, disposable device represents a significant breakthrough in regenerative medicine, especially suited for resource-limited settings, personalized treatments, or home healthcare. The technology stems from over a decade of research into lab-on-a-chip microfluidic technologies, which condense laboratory functions into compact devices comparable in size to a credit card. The main researcher, Dr. Pablo Enrique Guevara-Pantoja, emphasizes the device’s capacity to generate low-activation platelet-rich plasma with minimal system complexity.

The development is protected under a Spanish patent, and the research team is actively seeking partnerships to scale up production and facilitate market entry. This innovation could revolutionize PRP therapy by making it more accessible, affordable, and efficient.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-portable-effective-generate-high-quality.html