Plasma functionalized PDMS microfluidic chips: towards point-of-care capture of circulating tumor cells

摘要: The main challenge in the isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) resides their extreme rarity blood. Here we report on design efficient and disposable microfluidic CTC capture devices based plasma functionalization PDMS its subsequent conjugation with anti-epithelial-cell adhesion-molecule (EpCAM) mAb. Model studies planar surfaces demonstrated excellent immuno-specificity cancer-cell using NCI H69 small-cell lung cancer SK-Br-3 breast cells. Taking advantage transparency device, direct observation events internal 3D microstructure device could be achieved. At a flow rate 16 μL min−1, an overall efficiency 80 to 90% is determined cell-spiking experiments PBS. In accordance microscopic observations, increased (48 min−1) only has minor effect (30% reduction) cell-capture efficiency. Capture spiked whole blood above 70%. combination soft lithography plasma-based described this work enables facile fabrication PDMS, which facilitate transition new technology into clinical environment.