Characterizing circulating tumor cells using affinity-based microfluidic capture and AFM-based biomechanics

Muhammedin Deliorman; Ayoub Glia; Mohammad A Qasaimeh

doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101433

Characterizing circulating tumor cells using affinity-based microfluidic capture and AFM-based biomechanics

STAR Protoc. 2022 May 27;3(2):101433. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101433. eCollection 2022 Jun 17.

Authors

Muhammedin Deliorman¹, Ayoub Glia¹, Mohammad A Qasaimeh^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), P.O. Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
² Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA.

Abstract

Elasticity and bio-adhesiveness of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are important biomarkers of cancer. CTCs are rare in blood, thus their capture and atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based biomechanical characterization require use of multifunctional microfluidic device. Here, we describe procedures for fabrication of such device, AFM-Chip, and give details on its use in affinity-based CTC capture, and integration with AFM via reversable physical assembly. In the AFM-Chip, CTC capture is efficient, and transition to AFM characterization is seamless with minimal cell loss. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Deliorman et al. (2020).

Keywords: Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM); Biotechnology and bioengineering; Cell isolation; Single Cell.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biomechanical Phenomena
Cell Line, Tumor
Cell Separation
Humans
Microfluidics / methods
Microscopy, Atomic Force
Neoplastic Cells, Circulating* / pathology