Clinical immunofluorescence comparison analysis of microfluidic chips for highly efficient detection of CTCs with colorectal cancer and other cancers

• Published in: Microfluidics and nanofluidics 2022-08, Vol.26 (8), Article 62
• Main Authors: Chen, Hongmei, Peng, Guosheng, Li, Yong, Wang, Shuangshou, Lin, Changmin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Analytical Chemistry; Biological analysis; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Blood; Breast cancer; Cancer; Circulatory system; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal carcinoma; Detection; Engineering; Engineering Fluid Dynamics; Genetic analysis; Heterogeneity; Immunofluorescence; Lung cancer; Metastases; Microfluidics; Microstructure; Nanotechnology and Microengineering; Neoplasms; Non-small cell lung carcinoma; Patients; Research Paper; Tumor cells; Tumors
• ISSN: 1613-4982; 1613-4990
• DOI: 10.1007/s10404-022-02567-7

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are tumor cells that dissociate from the original tumor and disseminate in blood and lymphatic circulatory system. Biomolecular analysis of them would generate deep understanding of cancer and its metastasis mechanism. Therefore, CTCs have a significant value in the biological and genetic analysis of cancers. However, CTCs’ extreme rarity and heterogeneity in blood pose a high technological challenge. In the present work, we present a clinical immunofluorescence comparison analysis of microfluidic chips designed for detection of CTCs. The microfluidic chips employed are a double spiral chip embedded with trapezoid microstructures, two types of ellipse microfilters, and a wave chip, incorporated with physical, affinity, and immunomagnetic approaches. These microfluidic chips are tested with patient blood samples containing human breast cancer, non-small-cell-lung-cancer (NSCLC), and colorectal cancer, and CTCs are successfully identified in each patient blood sample with these chips. Clinical comparison analysis was made and the optimal chip is determined to be double spiral microfluidic chip with trapezoid microstructures. High capture rate, high purity, and high throughput could be achieved. Based on these designs and clinical performance, we further present a flower-shaped microfluidic chip to simultaneously satisfy the requirements of all merits. The delicate petals are U-shaped, and they are composed of four bean-shaped microposts in the middle and four circular microfluidic posts. Clinical validation and advanced designs would prospect their further application on clinical analysis, cancer therapy, and other potential products.