Label-free counting of affinity-enriched circulating tumor cells (CTCs) using a thermoplastic micro-Coulter counter (μCC).

ABSTRACT: Coulter counters are used for counting particles and biological cells. Most Coulter counters are designed to analyze a sample without the ability to pre-process the sample prior to counting. For the analysis of rare cells, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), it is not uncommon to require enrichment before counting due to the modest throughput of μCCs and the high abundance of interfering cells, such as blood cells. We report a microfluidic-based Coulter Counter (μCC) fabricated using simple, low-cost techniques for counting rare cells that can be interfaced to sample pre- and/or post-processing units. In the current work, a microfluidic device for the affinity-based enrichment of CTCs from whole blood into a relatively small volume of ∼10 μL was interfaced to the μCC to allow for exhau

SUBMITTER: Kong C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7350181 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature