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Related Experiment Video

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Microfluidics-based High-throughput Circulating Tumor Cell Sorting and Single-cell Sequencing Technology
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Deterministic sequential isolation of floating cancer cells under continuous flow.

Quang D Tran1, Tian Fook Kong, Dinglong Hu

  • 1School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. marcos@ntu.edu.sg.

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|July 9, 2016
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Summary

This study introduces a new microfluidic device for efficiently isolating rare floating cells, like circulating tumor cells (CTCs), using a hydrodynamic mechanism. The technology achieves high trapping and isolation efficiency, preserving cell viability for analysis.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Cell Biology
  • Microfluidics

Background:

  • Isolating rare cells, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), is difficult due to their low numbers and transient expression of key markers.
  • Existing methods face challenges in achieving high efficiency and maintaining cell viability for subsequent analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a novel hydrodynamic microfluidic device for the sequential trapping and isolation of rare floating cells.
  • To achieve high trapping yield and isolation efficiency for cells like CTCs.
  • To ensure the viability of isolated cells for downstream characterization.

Main Methods:

  • Design and fabrication of a microfluidic device featuring a series of microsieves for sequential cell isolation.
  • Optimization of microfluidic trapper dimensions and locations using computational modeling and experimental validation with microbeads and cells.
  • Investigation of flow rate parameters considering cell deformability for effective isolation.

Main Results:

  • Achieved up to 100% trapping yield and >95% sequential isolation efficiency for floating cells.
  • Validated the device's performance using the MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell line, showing agreement with microbead results.
  • Demonstrated the ability to isolate the largest particles from mixed-size samples, confirming potential for CTC isolation.

Conclusions:

  • The developed microfluidic device offers a promising strategy for sequential isolation of rare floating cells, including CTCs.
  • The high efficiency and preserved cell viability enable rapid detection and analysis of various rare cell types.
  • This technology has significant potential for applications in cancer diagnostics and research.