Size-resolved counting of circulating tumor cells on pinched flow-based microfluidic cytometry
Ling Xia1, Wanjun Zhou1, Jianying Huang1
1School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
Electrophoresis
|August 29, 2022
Summary
A new cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) microflow cytometer enables precise counting of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). This device offers potential for point-of-care clinical applications in cancer diagnostics.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Analytical Chemistry
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Accurate detection and enumeration of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are crucial for cancer diagnosis and monitoring.
- Existing methods for CTC analysis can be complex and require specialized laboratory equipment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simple, cost-effective microfluidic device for size-resolved CTC counting.
- To evaluate the device's performance using microspheres and simulated clinical samples.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) microflow cytometer with a pinched injection unit.
- Utilizing flow rate control for cell focusing within the counting channel.
- Integration with laser-induced fluorescence detection for counting and sizing.
Main Results:
- Achieved high count accuracy (up to 97.6%) for polystyrene microspheres of various sizes.
- Successfully detected and counted CTCs (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines) in spiked blood samples.
- Demonstrated effective cell focusing and size resolution.
Conclusions:
- The developed COC microflow cytometer provides a simple and efficient method for CTC detection and counting.
- The device shows promise for point-of-care applications in clinical settings.
- The pinched flow-based microfluidic cytometry approach is effective for CTC analysis.
