Isolation of fetal cells from maternal blood

Conventional invasive methods to allow for genetic screening in prenatal diagnostics still inhibit a significant risk of miscarriage. Hence, the development of non- or minimal-invasive methods is of huge interest. The isolation of fetal cells from maternal blood circulation is discussed as a promising approach for prenatal diagnosis. Within the FP6 NEST-Adventure project SAFER, the EU supported the development of an integrated microfluidic system for the isolation and enrichment of fetal cells from several millilitres of maternal blood. Cell isolation and enrichment was realized as a two-step procedure combining the depletion of non-target cells in a first step followed by positive selection of the nucleated fetal cells. After chemical lysis and nucleic acid purification form the lysates the sequences of interest are amplified and characterized on an array of electrochemical sensors.

Within the project IMM was responsible for transferring the macroscopic assay into a microfluidic environment. For this purpose, a polymer slide allowing for lossless transport of the isolated cells respectively the extracted nucleic acids was developed. The implementation of suitable transport concepts (pumps and valves) as well as the development and realization of the polymeric chips and a laboratory demonstrator were key activities of IMM within the project.

Contact: Dr. Ralf Himmelreich, Fluidics and Simulation Department,
Phone: +49 6131/990 492

More information on the "SAFER" project

Project data sheet 665.28 KB