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A Microfluidic Droplet Array Promotes Trastuzumab Sensitivity Exploration of Single Breast Cancer Cells
Jun-Jie Bai1, Xuan Zhang1,2, Xing Wei1
1Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110819, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Drug sensitivity is a major determinant influencing the efficiency of cancer treatment, and its evaluation faces critical challenges due to the cancer cell heterogeneity. Herein, a droplet-driven compartmentalization array (SCellEV chip) is presented to uncover single-cell trastuzumab sensitivity. Leveraging the differential flow resistance principle, the chip enables the flexible generation of single droplets orderly situated at designated spots. The single droplet includes parallel hydrodynamic microtraps empowers efficient compartments for single cell capture, and culture, and employs aptCD63-functionalized microbeads to immune-affinity capture single cell extracellular vesicles (EVs). The pairing capture of single cells and their EVs using single beads allows simultaneous identification of EVs and their original cells. The protein profiles (HER2 and CD63) and anti-cancer drug challenge revealed the cellular/EVs secretion heterogeneity at the single cell level and cell susceptibility to trastuzumab, further confirming that this chip achieves discriminating and predicting single breast cancer cells with different trastuzumab sensitivity using single cell/EVs profiling strategy. Furthermore, this analysis process retains the cell viability of measured cells to promote downstream detection integration. Overall, the SCellEV chip offers new avenues for single-cell analysis and exhibits great potential for cancer diagnostic and targeted treatment.
Insights
This study introduces a new chip to analyze single cancer cells and their extracellular vesicles (EVs), revealing differences in drug sensitivity. This technology aids in predicting patient response to trastuzumab treatment.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Cancer Research
- Single-Cell Analysis
Background:
- Cancer cell heterogeneity complicates drug sensitivity evaluation.
- Accurate assessment of drug sensitivity is crucial for effective cancer treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel method for uncovering single-cell trastuzumab sensitivity.
- To enable simultaneous analysis of single cells and their extracellular vesicles (EVs).
Main Methods:
- A droplet-driven compartmentalization array (SCellEV chip) was utilized.
- The chip employs hydrodynamic microtraps for single cell capture and culture.
- AptCD63-functionalized microbeads were used for immune-affinity capture of single cell extracellular vesicles (EVs).
Main Results:
- Simultaneous profiling of single cells and their EVs identified cellular and EVs secretion heterogeneity.
- The chip successfully discriminated and predicted breast cancer cells with varying trastuzumab sensitivity.
- The method maintained cell viability, allowing for downstream detection integration.
Conclusions:
- The SCellEV chip offers a new strategy for single-cell analysis.
- This technology demonstrates potential for improving cancer diagnostics and targeted therapy.
- Simultaneous single-cell and EV profiling can reveal drug susceptibility and heterogeneity.
