title: High efficiency vortex trapping of circulating tumor cells.
abstract: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are important biomarkers for monitoring tumor dynamics and efficacy of cancer therapy. Several technologies have been demonstrated to isolate CTCs with high efficiency but achieve a low purity from a large background of blood cells. We have previously shown the ability to enrich CTCs with high purity from large volumes of blood through selective capture in microvortices using the Vortex Chip. The device consists of a narrow channel followed by a series of expansion regions called reservoirs. Fast flow in the narrow entry channel gives rise to inertial forces, which direct larger cells into trapping vortices in the reservoirs where they remain circulating in orbits. By studying the entry and stability of particles following entry into reservoirs, we discover that channel cross sectional area plays an important role in controlling the size of trapped particles, not just the orbital trajectories. Using these design modifications, we demonstrate a new device that is able to capture a wider size range of CTCs from clinical samples, uncovering further heterogeneity. This simple biophysical method opens doors for a range of downstream interventions, including genetic analysis, cell culture, and ultimately personalized cancer therapy.
authors.forename: Manjima
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1147-5450
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dhar
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles , 420 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karimi
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Che
authors.affiliation: Vortex Biosciences, Inc. , 1455 Adams Drive, Menlo Labs, Suite 2010, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Renier
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles , 420 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine , San Francisco, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Triboulet
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology-Oncology, UCLA Medical Center , Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Edward B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Garon
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology-Oncology, UCLA Medical Center , Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Rettig
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine , San Francisco, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Stefanie S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jeffrey
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, UCLA Medical Center , Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Rajan P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
authors.affiliation: Vortex Biosciences, Inc. , 1455 Adams Drive, Menlo Labs, Suite 2010, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
authors.forename: Elodie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sollier
authors.forename: Dino
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Carlo