title: Capturing cancer cells using aptamer-immobilized square capillary channels.
abstract: We report a simple square capillary-based cell affinity chromatography device that utilizes a coating of aptamers for selective capture of target cancer cells from a flowing suspension. The device consists of a square capillary with an inner diameter of roughly five cell diameters, connected via Teflon tubing to a syringe. Aptamers are immobilized on the inner surface of the capillary through biotin-avidin chemistry, the extent of which can be controlled by adjusting the aptamer concentration. Introduction of different cell types into separate devices, as well as mixtures of target and non-target cells, demonstrated that aptamer-target cells can be captured in significantly higher concentrations compared to non-target cells. Once optimized, 91.1 ± 3.5% capture efficiency of target leukemia cells was reported, as well as 97.2 ± 2.8% and 83.6 ± 5.8% for two different colon cancer cell lines. In addition, cells captured in the device were imaged, and the square capillary exhibited better optical properties than standard cylindrical capillaries, leading to the detection of leukemia cells in blood samples. Compared to current microfluidic cell affinity devices, this capture device requires no complicated design or fabrication steps. By providing a simple means of detecting and imaging cancer cells in the blood, this work has potential to directly assist clinicians in determining disease prognosis and measuring therapeutic response.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research at Bio/Nano Interface, Department of Chemistry and Shands Cancer Center, University of Florida Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-7200, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Parag
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parekh
authors.forename: Kwame
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sefah
authors.forename: Weihong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D018914:Cells, Immobilized / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide