Biomimetic Microfluidic System for Fast and Specific Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells

Anal Chem. 2019 Dec 17;91(24):15726-15731. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b03920. Epub 2019 Nov 25.

Abstract

Improving the specific capture efficiency of CTCs, and meanwhile preventing the nonspecific adsorption of surrounding background cells, is the main focus of CTCs detection. Herein, a novel biomimetic microfluidic system was developed by combining the unique benefits of biomimetic nanoparticles and microfluidic techniques. The magnetic nanoclusters were camouflaged with leukocyte membrane fragments and decorated with aptamer SYL3C specific for EpCAM positive tumor cells and then loaded into the microfluidic chip with the help of magnets. By use of this system, more than 90% of the rare tumor cells in blood could be captured and detected within 20 min with almost no leukocyte background, indicating a great practical application potential for CTCs detection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / chemistry
  • Biomimetics / methods*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cell Separation / methods*
  • Cell Survival
  • Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetics
  • Microfluidics / methods*
  • Nanocomposites / chemistry
  • Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / metabolism
  • Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / pathology*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • EPCAM protein, human
  • Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule