Highly Sensitive Microfluidic Chip Captures Tumor Cells in Blood

Highly Sensitive Microfluidic Chip Captures Tumor Cells in Blood
Oct-07-13
Researchers have developed a microfluidic chip able to capture circulating tumor cells from blood and keep the cells alive for analysis.

The chip, which is the first device able to both capture and grow tumor cells, uses a technology based on gold particles in the shape of flowers. The gold particles naturally attract graphene oxide, which forms a layer over the gold and allowed the team to grow molecular chains that capture the circulating tumor cells moving through the blood.

In tests, the device was able to capture all the tumor cells in a blood sample about half the time, with an average of 73 percent over 10 trials—even when only three to five cancer cells were added to the sample of five to ten billion blood cells. According to Sunitha Nagrath, who led the research, "That's the highest anybody has shown in the literature for spiking such a low number of cells."

Image: An optical microscope reveals a cancer cell attached to the flower pattern.

Highly Sensitive Microfluidic Chip Captures Tumor Cells in Blood


More Info about this Invention:

[MEDGADGET.COM]
[UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN]
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Great idea. Would like to know more about your product. and conditions for potential distribution in Brazil
Regards
Posted by Fernando Neves on November 1, 2013

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