title: A semiautomated microfluidic platform for real-time investigation of nanoparticles' cellular uptake and cancer cells' tracking.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Develop a platform composed of labeled dendrimer nanoparticles (NPs) and a microfluidic device for real-time monitoring of cancer cells fate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Carboxymethylchitosan/poly(amidoamine) dendrimer NPs were labeled with fluorescein-5(6)-isothiocyanate and characterized using different physicochemical techniques. After, HeLa, HCT-116 and U87MG were cultured in the presence of NPs, and cell viability and internalization efficiency in static (standard culture) and dynamic (microfluidic culture) conditions were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cancer cells cultured with NPs in dynamic conditions were viable and presented higher internalization levels as compared with static 2D cultures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This work demonstrated that the proposed microfluidic-based platform allows real-time monitoring, which upon more studies, namely, the assessment of an anticancer drug release effect could be used for cancer theranostics.
authors.affiliation: 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables & Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine, Avepark - Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco GMR, Portugal.|ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associated Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mariana R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables & Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine, Avepark - Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco GMR, Portugal.|ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associated Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: F Raquel
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.affiliation: 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables & Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine, Avepark - Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco GMR, Portugal.|ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associated Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Silva-Correia
authors.affiliation: ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associated Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.|Life & Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Bruno M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables & Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine, Avepark - Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco GMR, Portugal.|ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associated Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rui L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables & Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine, Avepark - Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco GMR, Portugal.|ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associated Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joaquim M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D048271:Chitosan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000379:methods*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D050091:Dendrimers; D004337:Drug Carriers; C514968:carboxymethyl-chitosan; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: cell tracking; circulating tumor cells; microfluidics; nanoparticles; theranostics