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Capture and Release of Viable Circulating Tumor Cells from Blood
Published on: October 28, 2016
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Microfilter-Based Capture and Release of Viable Circulating Tumor Cells
Siddarth Rawal1,2, Zheng Ao2,3, Ram H Datar2
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, 1251 Memorial Drive, McArthur Engineering Building, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|August 19, 2017
Summary
This study introduces a novel method using a temperature-responsive polymer, poly(N-iso-propylacrylamide) (PIPAAm), for efficient release of viable circulating tumor cells (CTCs) captured on microfilters. This technique enhances CTC recovery for downstream cancer research.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Oncology
Background:
- Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are crucial biomarkers for cancer detection and monitoring.
- Microfilters with slot-pore geometry enable size-based CTC capture with reduced cell stress.
- Efficient release of captured CTCs from microfilters remains a significant challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel protocol for the efficient and viable release of captured CTCs from microfilters.
- To utilize the thermo-responsive properties of poly(N-iso-propylacrylamide) (PIPAAm) for CTC detachment.
- To enable downstream analysis and characterization of released CTCs.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of microfilters with slot-pore geometry.
- Coating the microfilter surface with the thermo-responsive polymer PIPAAm.
- Utilizing temperature-dependent hydrophilic/hydrophobic transitions of PIPAAm for cell release.
Main Results:
- PIPAAm coating facilitates the release of electrostatically bound CTCs.
- High efficiency of viable CTC recovery was achieved by shifting temperature from room temperature to 37°C.
- The developed method allows for subsequent off-chip culture and characterization of released CTCs.
Conclusions:
- The PIPAAm-coated microfilter system offers a promising platform for viable CTC isolation and recovery.
- This thermo-responsive approach overcomes limitations of traditional CTC release methods.
- The protocol supports advanced downstream applications for CTCs in cancer diagnostics and research.
