新加坡南洋理工大學推出革命性的「ExoArc」晶片，改變血漿分離和精確診斷

新加坡南洋理工大學（NTU Singapore）的科學家開發了 ExoArc，這是一種硬幣大小的晶片，可以在 30 分鐘內從血液中分離血漿，一步去除超過 99.9% 的血球和血小板。該方法超越了當前的黃金標準離心過程，該過程可能需要長達一個小時，並且可能會引入污染。 ExoArc 能夠提取高純度血漿，用於無細胞 DNA、RNA 和細胞外囊泡的臨床分析，有助於癌症和糖尿病等疾病的生物標記篩檢。

NTU Singapore Unveils Revolutionary 'ExoArc' Chip: A Paradigm Shift in Blood Plasma Isolation

新加坡南洋理工大學推出革命性的「ExoArc」晶片：血漿分離的典範轉移

Singapore, July 19, 2023 - Scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have achieved a groundbreaking milestone in the field of clinical diagnostics with the development of 'ExoArc,' a compact and user-friendly chip that revolutionizes blood plasma isolation.

新加坡，2023 年7 月19 日- 新加坡南洋理工大學（NTU Singapore）的科學家開發出“ExoArc”，在臨床診斷領域實現了突破性的里程碑，這是一款緊湊且用戶友好的晶片，徹底改變了血漿分離。

Replacing the Centrifuge: A Faster, More Accurate Approach

更換離心機：更快、更準確的方法

ExoArc, meticulously described in the prestigious journal ACS Nano, offers an elegant solution to the limitations of the current gold-standard method, the centrifuge. While centrifugation has long been the mainstay for isolating blood plasma, its multi-step process, extended duration, and potential for contamination have hindered its efficiency.

ExoArc 在著名的 ACS Nano 雜誌上進行了詳細描述，它為當前黃金標準方法（離心機）的局限性提供了一種優雅的解決方案。雖然離心長期以來一直是分離血漿的主要方法，但其多步驟過程、較長的持續時間和污染的可能性阻礙了其效率。

"Our aim was to develop a rapid and reliable alternative to the centrifuge, one that would provide high-purity plasma for precision diagnostics," said Associate Professor Hou Han Wei, lead scientist on the ExoArc project.

ExoArc 計畫首席科學家侯漢偉副教授表示：“我們的目標是開發一種快速、可靠的離心機替代品，為精確診斷提供高純度血漿。”

Harnessing the Power of Precision Microfluidics

利用精密微流體的力量

ExoArc leverages cutting-edge microfluidics, employing tiny channels within a compact chip to expertly separate blood plasma from red and white blood cells, as well as platelets. This ingenious mechanism eliminates the need for physical membranes or filters, enhancing efficiency and minimizing the risk of sample alteration.

ExoArc 利用尖端的微流體技術，利用緊湊晶片內的微小通道專業地將血漿與紅血球、白血球以及血小板分離。這種巧妙的機制消除了對物理膜或過濾器的需求，提高了效率並最大限度地降低了樣品改變的風險。

"We have harnessed a unique flow phenomenon within these microchannels to precisely separate biological components based on their size," explained Hou.

「我們利用這些微通道內獨特的流動現象，根據生物成分的大小精確分離它們，」侯解釋道。

Validation and Applications: Precision in Action

驗證與應用：行動精準

In a proof-of-concept study, the NTU team constructed a portable ExoArc prototype device. Collaborating with clinicians from the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), they clinically validated ExoArc's capabilities.

在概念驗證研究中，NTU 團隊建構了便攜式 ExoArc 原型設備。他們與新加坡國家癌症中心 (NCCS)、陳篤生醫院 (TTSH) 和新加坡科學技術研究局 (A*STAR) 的臨床醫生合作，對 ExoArc 的功能進行了臨床驗證。

Using a biomarker panel to analyze blood plasma samples from healthy individuals and cancer patients, the team demonstrated ExoArc's remarkable diagnostic accuracy. "By minimizing contamination from degraded blood cells, we significantly enhance the precision of diagnostic tests, reducing anxiety and ultimately improving patient care," said Professor Darren Lim, Senior Consultant at NCCS.

該團隊使用生物標記組分析健康個體和癌症患者的血漿樣本，證明了 ExoArc 卓越的診斷準確性。 NCCS 高級顧問 Darren Lim 教授表示：“通過最大限度地減少降解血細胞的污染，我們顯著提高了診斷測試的精確度，減少了焦慮，並最終改善了患者護理。”

ExoArc's versatility extends beyond cancer diagnostics. The research team successfully employed the chip to study microRNA molecules from blood plasma samples of individuals with type 2 diabetes. This study highlighted ExoArc's potential for identifying disease-related biomarkers, unlocking avenues for personalized medicine.

ExoArc 的多功能性超出了癌症診斷的範圍。研究團隊成功利用該晶片研究了 2 型糖尿病患者血漿樣本中的 microRNA 分子。這項研究強調了 ExoArc 在識別疾病相關生物標記方面的潛力，為個人化醫療開闢了一條途徑。

"ExoArc holds immense promise for precision medicine, empowering clinicians to better manage chronic conditions like diabetes," said Associate Professor Rinkoo Dalan, Senior Consultant at TTSH.

TTSH 高級顧問 Rinkoo Dalan 副教授表示：“ExoArc 為精準醫療帶來了巨大前景，使臨床醫生能夠更好地管理糖尿病等慢性病。”

Beyond Blood Plasma Isolation: A Versatile Platform

超越血漿分離：多功能平台

ExoArc's capabilities are not limited to blood plasma isolation. By adjusting its size cut-off, the platform can also be utilized to isolate bacteria or viruses from blood or other biofluids. This versatility opens up exciting possibilities for research and diagnostics in various medical fields.

ExoArc 的功能不僅限於血漿分離。透過調整其尺寸截止值，該平台還可用於從血液或其他生物液體中分離細菌或病毒。這種多功能性為各個醫學領域的研究和診斷開啟了令人興奮的可能性。

Innovation with Global Impact

具有全球影響力的創新

NTU has filed two patent applications for the ExoArc innovation through NTUitive, its innovation and enterprise company. With its potential to significantly reduce sample preparation time and enhance diagnostic accuracy, ExoArc is poised to transform clinical diagnostics worldwide.

NTU 已透過其創新和企業公司 NTUitive 提交了兩項 ExoArc 創新專利申請。 ExoArc 具有顯著縮短樣品製備時間並提高診斷準確性的潛力，有望改變全球臨床診斷。

"ExoArc represents a significant advancement in sample preparation for molecular diagnostics, offering a faster, more accurate, and more cost-effective solution," concluded Hou. "We are eager to see this technology adopted in clinics and hospitals, empowering healthcare professionals to deliver better patient outcomes."

「ExoArc 代表了分子診斷樣品製備的重大進步，提供了更快、更準確且更具成本效益的解決方案，」侯總結道。 “我們渴望看到這項技術在診所和醫院得到採用，使醫療保健專業人員能夠提供更好的患者治療結果。”