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Updated: Nov 28, 2025
Clinical Microfluidic Chip Platform for the Isolation of Versatile Circulating Tumor Cells
Published on: October 13, 2023
SERS and fluorescence detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) with specific capture-release mode based on
Jing Wang1, Ruiyuan Zhang1, Xiaoting Ji1
1Key Laboratory of Optic-electric Sensing and Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Biochemical Analysis, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science in Universities of Shandong, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, PR China.
Abstract:
Herein, a dual-selective recognition and multi-enhanced surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-fluorescence dual mode detection platform is designed for the detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). The gold nanoflowers (AuNFs) substrate was synthesized and the CTCs were captured on the surface area of AuNFs/ITO substrate by aptamers modified. At the same time, the novel nanoprobe was designed, anti-EpCAM (AE) and trigger DNA were modified onto the surface of gold nanostars (AuNSs) through a PEG linker. The novel nanoprobe identified CTCs through the specific recognition reaction between AE and the cell epithelial adhesion molecule of the CTCs. The dual-recognition cellular mechanism of the aptamers and AE improves selectivity. Then, the complementary sequence (CS) hybridize with aptamers to release the captured CTCs into the culture medium. The number of CTCs released was detected by SERS and fluorescence. The limit of SERS detection was 5 cells/mL with a linear relationship from 5 to 200 cells/mL. The limit of fluorescence detection was 10 cells/mL with a linear relationship from 10 to 200 cells/mL. Thus, the developed CTCs detection platform demonstrates promising applications for clinical diagnosis.
