Development of surface-functionalized power-free microchip for breast cancer cell-derived extracellular vesicle...

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as promising biomarkers for liquid biopsies because of their responsiveness to various physiological conditions. However, their dynamic physical properties pose significant analytical challenges, which necessitates the development of novel detection methods. In this study, a portable surface-functionalized power-free microchip (SF-PF microchip) was developed that enables the detection of EVs without external pumps. In particular, the SF-PF microchip specifically detected EVs derived from metastatic breast cancer cells with a limit of detection of 5.0 × 10¹⁰ particles/mL. Moreover, the SF-PF microchip required only 2.0 µL of sample volume and completed the detection within approximately 20 min, offering a rapid and convenient approach for EV analysis. Furthermore, the SF-PF microchip successfully detected EVs in serum samples, which highlights its potential for clinical application in liquid biopsies.