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Microfluidics-based High-throughput Circulating Tumor Cell Sorting and Single-cell Sequencing Technology
Published on: November 14, 2025
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Nanotentacle-structured magnetic particles for efficient capture of circulating tumor cells
Seong-Min Jo1, Joong-jae Lee, Woosung Heu
1Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 305-701, Republic of Korea.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|December 16, 2014
Summary
Researchers developed novel magnetic particles with "nanotentacles" for highly efficient and pure isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). This advancement promises improved cancer diagnosis and monitoring by overcoming current capture challenges.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are vital biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and monitoring.
- Current methods for CTC isolation face challenges in capture efficiency and purity, limiting clinical application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an advanced method for efficient and pure isolation of CTCs.
- To utilize M13-bacteriophage-based magnetic nanoparticles with a "nanotentacle" structure for CTC capture.
Main Methods:
- Conjugation of M13-bacteriophage to magnetic particles, followed by PEG modification.
- Tethering of monoclonal antibodies against human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) to the modified particles.
- Application of these nanotentacle-structured magnetic particles for CTC capture from whole blood.
Main Results:
- Achieved high capture purity (>45%) and efficiency (>90%) for CTCs.
- Demonstrated successful capture of a small number of cancer cells (approximately 25 cells) in whole blood.
- Maintained high viability (>84%) of the captured cancer cells.
Conclusions:
- The developed nanotentacle-structured magnetic particles offer a highly efficient and pure method for CTC isolation.
- This approach shows significant potential for improving CTC-based cancer diagnosis and monitoring.
- The method ensures high viability of captured CTCs, crucial for downstream analyses.

