Semi-Automated Platform for Early Prenatal Coelocentesis Testing Using Electrospun Nanofiber Technology

Prenatal diagnostics play a critical role in identifying fetal disease conditions, particularly rare genetic disorders that significantly contribute to infant morbidity and mortality. Despite major advances in sequencing technologies, nearly 80% of rare disease cases remain undiagnosed. Invasive procedures such as amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) provide valuable genetic information but are typically performed between the 15th and 20th weeks of gestation and carry a risk of miscarriage. Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) offers a safer alternative; however, it lacks the resolution required to reliably detect rare monogenic diseases. Coelocentesis, an earlier sampling technique performed between 6–10 weeks of gestation through transvaginal aspiration of coelomic fluid, enables access to fetal cells at a much earlier stage. Its clinical utility is limited by the low number of available fetal cells and by labor-intensive isolation methods such as micromanipulation. This study proposes a semi-automated capture device based on electrospun nanofiber mats functionalized with antibodies targeting fetal-specific surface antigens. The high surface area and structural flexibility of the nanofibers enable efficient and selective capture from low-cellularity samples. Integration with microfluidic systems may streamline processing and improve diagnostic throughput.