A Microfluidic Detection System for Bladder Cancer Tumor Cells

Abstract

The clinical characteristics of excreted tumor cells can be found in the urine of bladder cancer patients, meaning the identification of tumor cells in urine can assist in bladder cancer diagnosis. The presence of white blood cells and epithelial cells in the urine interferes with the recognition of tumor cells. In this paper, a technique for detecting cancer cells in urine based on microfluidics provides a novel approach to bladder cancer diagnosis. The bladder cancer cell line (T24) and MeT-5A were used as positive bladder tumor cells and non-tumor cells, respectively. The practicality of the tumor cell detection system based on microfluidic cell chip detection technology is discussed. The tumor cell (T24) concentration was around 1 × 10 4 to 300 × 10 4 cells/mL. When phosphate buffer saline (PBS) was the diluted solution, the tumor cell detected rate was 63-71% and the detection of tumor cell number stability (coefficient of variation, CV%) was 6.7-4.1%, while when urine was the diluted solution, the tumor cell detected rate was 64-72% and the detection of tumor cell number stability (CV%) was 6.3-3.9%. In addition, both PBS and urine are tumor cell dilution fluid solutions. The sample was analyzed at a speed of 750 microns per hour. Based on the above experiments, a system for detecting bladder cancer cells in urine by microfluidic analysis chip technology was reported. The rate of recognizing bladder cancer cells reached 68.4%, and the speed reached 2 mL/h.

Microfluidics‐Based Urine Biopsy for Cancer Diagnosis: Recent Advances and Future Trends

“…For example, a conventional droplet-based microfluidic chip was developed to detect bladder cancer cells in diluted urine samples, which facilitated the diagnostics of bladder cancer. [108] Moreover, single-cell analysis is particularly competent for the evaluation of cellular heterogeneity, which is more informative for cancer stage assessment and even personalized diagnosis. In another work, microdroplets were utilized to capture and encapsulate bladder cancer cells for subsequent single-cell impedance measurement with integrated microelectrodes, which allowed the evaluation of cancerous stage based on cellular heterogeneity (Figure 2A).…”

“…Droplet microfluidics has exhibited excellent capabilities for single‐cell isolation and analysis. For example, a conventional droplet‐based microfluidic chip was developed to detect bladder cancer cells in diluted urine samples, which facilitated the diagnostics of bladder cancer [108] . Moreover, single‐cell analysis is particularly competent for the evaluation of cellular heterogeneity, which is more informative for cancer stage assessment and even personalized diagnosis.…”

Biomarkers for Precision Urothelial Carcinoma Diagnosis: Current Approaches and the Application of Single-Cell Technologies

“…Microfluidic-based techniques to detect cancer cells in urine have also been recently developed and provide a novel approach to UC diagnosis. Several microfluidic devices that can detect rare UETCs have been developed [ 102 , 103 ], including a single-cell microscopic observation device for detecting tumor cells using droplet microfluidic technology [ 104 ].…”

Optical Detection Methods for High-Throughput Fluorescent Droplet Microflow Cytometry

“…The optical setup consists of a 20× objective lens, dichroic mirror, emission filter, mirror, camera, laser, and a microfluidic device. Reproduced with permission from [ 110 ].…”

“…(b) A laser Electron Multiplying Charge Coupled Device (EMCCD) sensor system capable of detecting fluorescence-induced droplets at the rate of 30 Hz. The optical setup consists of a 20× objective lens, dichroic mirror, emission filter, mirror, camera, laser, and a microfluidic device.Reproduced with permission from[110].…”