Emerging functional microfluidic assays for the study of thromboinflammation in sickle cell disease

Purpose of review This review briefly summarizes the significant impact of thromboinflammation in sickle cell disease in relation to recent advances in biomarkers that are used in functional microfluidic assays. Recent findings Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited hemoglobinopathy that affects 100 000 Americans and millions worldwide. Patients with SCD exhibit chronic haemolysis, chronic inflammation and thrombosis, and vaso-occlusion, triggering various clinical complications, including organ damage and increased mortality and morbidity. Recent advances in functional microfluidic assays provide direct biomarkers of disease, including abnormal white blood cell and red blood cell adhesion, cell aggregation, endothelial degradation and contraction, and thrombus formation. Novel and emerging functional microfluidic assays are a promising and feasible strategy to comprehensively characterize thromboinflammatory reactions in SCD, which can be used for personalized risk assessment and tailored therapeutic decisions.