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Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Studying the Stoichiometry of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Intact Cells using Correlative Microscopy
Published on: September 11, 2015
Epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted immune magnetic liposomes capture circulating colorectal tumor cells
Jing-Hua Kuai1, Qing Wang1, Ai-Jun Zhang1
1Department of Gastroenterology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Qingdao 266035, Shandong Province, China.
Aim:
To compare the capacity of newly developed epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted immune magnetic liposomes (EILs) vs epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) immunomagnetic beads to capture colorectal circulating tumor cells (CTCs).
Methods:
EILs were prepared using a two-step method, and the magnetic and surface characteristics were confirmed. The efficiency of capturing colorectal CTCs as well as the specificity were compared between EILs and EpCAM magnetic beads.
Results:
The obtained EILs had a lipid nanoparticle structure similar to cell membrane. Improved binding with cancer cells was seen in EILs compared with the method of coupling nano/microspheres with antibody. The binding increased as the contact time extended. Compared with EpCAM immunomagnetic beads, EILs captured more CTCs in peripheral blood from colorectal cancer patients. The captured cells showed consistency with clinical diagnosis and pathology. Mutation analysis showed same results between captured CTCs and cancer tissues.
Conclusion:
EGFR antibody-coated magnetic liposomes show high efficiency and specificity in capturing colorectal CTCs.
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