Apparatus and methods for detection of tumor cells in blood

摘要

In one embodiment, the present invention provides the description of an inexpensive and disposable handheld device for detecting Circulating tumor cells (CTC) in blood called a handheld CTC detector (HCTCD). The HCTCD is capable of detecting less than 1 CTC per milliliter. The HCTCD consists of a dense array of high aspect ratio freestanding metallic nanoneedles, functionalized with antibodies that integrated within a microfluidic device and selectively capture and count (using electrical signal detection) the CTCs. By selecting a right functionalization protocol for the nanoneedles array, the HCTCD can be used for selective capturing a variety of rare cells that are mixed in human fluids.

主权项

1. A microfluidic device for capturing, and counting the number of, one specific type of cell in a mixture of cells submerged in a liquid medium, said device comprising:
an array of interdigitated electrodes located on ceiling of said microfluidic device, an array of interdigitated electrodes located on floor of said microfluidic device, and; a plurality of freestanding conductive nanoneedles grown on equal intervals on micromachined surfaces of each of said arrays of interdigitated electrodes such that said micromachined surfaces of said interdigitated electrodes on ceiling and floor of said microfluidic device face toward each other, wherein said freestanding conductive nanoneedles are treated so that the surface of said nanoneedles demonstrate selective adhesion towards said specific type of cell in said mixture of cells,wherein, the area on said interdigiteted electrodes not covered by said nanoneedles is electrically insulated, and the distance between said nanoneedles is slightly greater than the largest diameter of any cells within said mixture of cells.