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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Microfluidics-based High-throughput Circulating Tumor Cell Sorting and Single-cell Sequencing Technology

Microfluidics-based High-throughput Circulating Tumor Cell Sorting and Single-cell Sequencing Technology

Published on: November 14, 2025

Microfluidics for cell sorting and single cell analysis from whole blood.

Ramanathan Vaidyanathan¹, Trifanny Yeo¹, Chwee Teck Lim²

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.

Methods in Cell Biology

|September 1, 2018

Summary

This study introduces a novel microfluidic method to isolate bulk and single circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from blood. This approach enables detailed single-cell analysis for improved cancer diagnosis and personalized treatments.

Keywords:

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs)Inertial focusing microfluidics Precision medicine Single cell analysis

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Area of Science:

Oncology
Biotechnology
Microfluidics

Background:

Cancer metastasis leads to heterogeneous circulating tumor cells (CTCs).
CTCs offer a less-invasive liquid biopsy alternative.
Existing CTC analysis methods struggle with cell-to-cell variability.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a novel microfluidic approach for isolating bulk and single CTCs.
To enable downstream single-cell analysis of CTCs.
To advance personalized cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Main Methods:

Utilized a combination of two microfluidic chips.
Employed inertial fluid forces and hydrodynamic focusing for cell isolation.
Enabled rapid isolation and selective retrieval of CTCs from whole blood.

Main Results:

Successfully isolated both bulk and single circulating tumor cells.
The method is effective for downstream single-cell analysis.
Demonstrated a novel approach for CTC retrieval.

Conclusions:

The combinational microfluidic approach effectively isolates CTCs.
This technology supports accurate disease diagnosis.
Facilitates the development of personalized therapeutic strategies.