---
title: "Droplet ADP Secretion Assay (DASA): single-platelet digital detection of primed, active and hyper-"
id: "biorxiv-13-droplet-microfluidics-reports-digital-and-tuneable-single-platelet-adp"
canonical_url: "https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/biorxiv-13-droplet-microfluidics-reports-digital-and-tuneable-single-platelet-adp"
content_type: "clinical_feed_article"
specialty: "Cardiology"
source_name: "bioRxiv (Biomedical Preprints)"
source_url: "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.07.24.740520v1?rss=1"
published_at: "2026-07-28T12:00:00.000Z"
evidence_level: "Verified Feed"
license: "CC-BY-NC-4.0 / Informational Use"
---
# Droplet ADP Secretion Assay (DASA): single-platelet digital detection of primed, active and hyper-
## Provenance & Clinical Metadata
- **Canonical URL:** https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/biorxiv-13-droplet-microfluidics-reports-digital-and-tuneable-single-platelet-adp
- **Specialty:** [Cardiology](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/cardiology.md)
- **Primary Source:** bioRxiv (Biomedical Preprints)
- **Source URL:** [Original Journal Publication](https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.07.24.740520v1?rss=1)
- **Published At:** 2026-07-28T12:00:00.000Z
- **Evidence Rating:** Verified Feed
## Executive GIST (TL;DR)
- The authors developed a microfluidic method, the **Droplet ADP Secretion Assay (DASA)**, to encapsulate single platelets with a fluorescent reporter for extracellular **ADP** in picolitre droplets. - DASA detected dose-dependent ADP secretion responses to platelet agonists, revealing **digital heterogeneity**: most platelets responded while a subpopulation remained non-responders. - A distinct **primed** platelet phenotype was identified: primed platelets showed higher ADP secretion per cell and an increased fraction of secreting platelets; priming could convert otherwise inactive platelets into a reactive state. - DASA uniquely detected ADP secretion from primed platelets in the absence of exogenous agonists, an effect not captured by standard flow cytometry endpoints (CD63 and CD62P). - In vitro treatment with **aspirin** and **ticagrelor** reduced ADP secretion responses to agonists as measured by DASA. - In a preliminary clinical study, some patients exhibited a priming-like ADP secretion signature; authors suggest this could indicate patients who may benefit from **P2Y12** inhibitor therapy. - The method may provide a novel single-cell functional readout for platelet reactivity and could inform personalised antiplatelet strategies and thrombotic risk assessment. - Funding sources declared included the British Heart Foundation (NH/F/22/70010) and Haemonetics Corp. Detailed methods, sample sizes, statistical outcomes and full clinical cohort descriptions were not reported in the provided source abstract.
## Clinical Analysis & Structured Key Points
Droplet microfluidics reports digital and tuneable single-platelet ADP secretion describing primed, active and hyper-active states | bioRxiv Skip to main content New Results Droplet microfluidics reports digital and tuneable single-platelet ADP secretion describing primed, active and hyper-active states View ORCID Profile Max Saito , View ORCID Profile Theo Hornsey , View ORCID Profile Ahmed Elserwey , View ORCID Profile Simon I.R. Lane , View ORCID Profile Craig E. Hughes , Chris Jones , View ORCID Profile Nick Curzen , View ORCID Profile Jonathan West doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.24.740520 Max Saito 1 University of Southampton; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Max Saito Theo Hornsey 1 University of Southampton; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Theo Hornsey Ahmed Elserwey 2 Univesity of Southampton; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Ahmed Elserwey Simon I.R. Lane 1 University of Southampton; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Simon I.R. Lane Craig E. Hughes 3 University of Reading Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Craig E. Hughes Chris Jones 3 University of Reading Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Nick Curzen 1 University of Southampton; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Nick Curzen Jonathan West 1 University of Southampton; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Jonathan West For correspondence: j.j.west{at}soton.ac.uk Abstract Info/History Metrics Supplementary material Data/Code Preview PDF Abstract New platelet function assays that provide an accurate assessment of platelet reactivity as a surrogate for thrombosis risk could change the paradigm for acute myocardial infarction and stroke prevention. Considering ADP secretion as a hallmark of platelet activation, we developed a method for encapsulating single platelets with a fluorescent reporter for extracellular ADP in picolitre droplets. The method, termed the Droplet ADP Secretion Assay (DASA), robustly detected dose-dependent ADP secretion responses to agonists. Digital ADP secretion heterogeneity was observed with the major fraction of platelets responding and the remaining fraction being non-responders. Primed platelets had elevated responses to agonists, with increased ADP secretion and an increased fraction of secreting platelets, demonstrating that priming can convert otherwise inactive platelets to a reactive state. Uniquely, the method detected ADP secretion from primed platelets in the absence of agonists. In contrast, primed platelets were not detected by flow cytometry involving CD63 and CD62P endpoints. In a preliminary clinical study, some patients had platelets with a priming-like ADP secretion signature, suggesting treatment with P2Y 12 inhibitors may be warranted. In vitro aspirin and ticagrelor treatments reduced ADP secretion responses to agonists. In summary, DASA offers a novel approach to assess platelet reactivity and holds promise for assessing thrombotic tendency and personalised therapeutics. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Footnotes https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Flow_cytometry_data_sets_for_new_manuscript_Droplet_microfluidics_reports_digital_and_tuneable_single-platelet_ADP_secretion_describing_primed_active_and_hyper-active_states_/33060650 Funder Information Declared British Heart Foundation , NH/F/22/70010 Haemonetics Corp. Copyright The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY 4.0 International license . Back to top Previous Next Posted July 28, 2026. Download PDF Supplementary Material Data/Code Email Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about bioRxiv. NOTE: Your email address is requested solely to identify you as the sender of this article. Your Email * Your Name * Send To * Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas. You are going to email the following Droplet microfluidics reports digital and tuneable single-platelet ADP secretion describing primed, active and hyper-active states Message Subject (Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from bioRxiv Message Body (Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from the bioRxiv website. Your Personal Message CAPTCHA This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. Share Droplet microfluidics reports digital and tuneable single-platelet ADP secretion describing primed, active and hyper-active states Max Saito , Theo Hornsey , Ahmed Elserwey , Simon I.R. Lane , Craig E. Hughes , Chris Jones , Nick Curzen , Jonathan West bioRxiv 2026.07.24.740520; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.24.740520 Share This Article: Copy Citation Tools Droplet microfluidics reports digital and tuneable single-platelet ADP secretion describing primed, active and hyper-active states Max Saito , Theo Hornsey , Ahmed Elserwey , Simon I.R. Lane , Craig E. 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