Continuous CTC separation through a DEP‐based contraction–expansion inertial microfluidic channel

Abstract

The efficient isolation of viable and intact circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from blood is critical for the genetic analysis of cancer cells, prediction of cancer progression, development of drugs, and evaluation of therapeutic treatments. While conventional cell separation devices utilize the size difference between CTCs and other blood cells, they fail to separate CTCs from white blood cells (WBCs) due to significant size overlap. To overcome this issue, we present a novel approach that combines curved contraction–expansion (CE) channels with dielectrophoresis (DEP) and inertial microfluidics to isolate CTCs from WBCs regardless of size overlap. This label‐free and continuous separation method utilizes dielectric properties and size variation of cells for the separation of CTCs from WBCs. The results demonstrate that the proposed hybrid microfluidic channel can effectively isolate A549 CTCs from WBCs regardless of their size with a throughput of 300 μL/min, achieving a high separation distance of 233.4 μm at an applied voltage of 50 Vp–p. The proposed method allows for the modification of cell migration characteristics by controlling the number of CE sections of the channel, applied voltage, applied frequency, and flow rate. With its unique features of a single‐stage separation, simple design, and tunability, the proposed method provides a promising alternative to the existing label‐free cell separation techniques and may have a wide range of applications in biomedicine.

Continuous Sampling of Aerosolized Particles Using Stratified Two-Phase Microfluidics

“…Our numerical schemes could also be used to design and optimize new devices with improved particle capture efficiency. Because of its lower pressure drop compared to many other microfluidic devices, this stratified flow-based collection technique could be paired with other microfluidic methods, such as deterministic lateral displacement, , electrophoresis, , and acoustophoresis, to attain additional separation and enrichment based on size and electrophoretic and acoustophoretic properties to sort out specific biothreats of interest. When coupled with a biosensor, this microfluidic device could enable continuous environmental monitoring for harmful biothreats.…”

Recent Developments in Inertial and Centrifugal Microfluidic Systems along with the Involved Forces for Cancer Cell Separation: A Review

“…In other words, there was a higher possibility of damaging the intracellular structures of cells while passing the contraction-expansion channel. Recently, Islam et al introduced a DEP-based contraction-expansion inertial microfluidic channel for CTC separation [156]. They combined curved contraction-expansion channels with integrated electrodes for DEP manipulation of cells and inertial separation methods to separate CTCs from WBCs regardless of the size overlap.…”

Enhancing the efficiency of lung cancer cell capture using microfluidic dielectrophoresis and aptamer‐based surface modification

“…This differential force pushes the cells toward their respective outlets, allowing for the successful isolation of cancer cells from regular blood cells. Both methods offer label‐free and continuous separation, with FFF providing a wide range of applications in biomedicine and LFFF demonstrating successful isolation of CTCs from regular blood cells [15, 16]. In the literature, Nerguizian et al.…”