Microdevices for Non-Invasive Detection of Bladder Cancer

Abstract

Bladder cancer holds the record for the highest lifetime cost on a per-patient basis. This is due to high recurrence rates, which necessitate invasive and costly long-term evaluation methods such as cystoscopy and imaging. Microfluidics is emerging as an important approach to contribute to initial diagnosis and follow-up, by enabling the precise manipulation of biological samples. Specifically, microdevices have been used for the isolation of cells or genetic material from blood samples, sparking significant interest as a versatile platform for non-invasive bladder cancer detection with voided urine. In this review, we revisit the methods of bladder cancer detection and describe various types of markers currently used for evaluation. We detail cutting-edge technologies and evaluate their merits in the detection, screening, and diagnosis of bladder cancer. Advantages of microscale devices over standard methods of detection, as well as their limitations, are provided. We conclude with a discussion of criteria for guiding microdevice development that could deepen our understanding of prognoses at the level of individual patients and the underlying biology of bladder cancer development. Collectively, the development and widespread application of improved microfluidic devices for bladder cancer could drive treatment breakthroughs and establish widespread, tangible outcomes on patients' long-term survival.

Detection of Bladder Cancer in Urine Sediments by a Novel Multicolor Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (Quartet) Test

“…Both the efficiency of the test and its objective scoring can be improved further by automated high-throughput, computer-based image analysis [33][34][35]. In addition, similar to other diagnostic tests utilizing cytology, FISH, and DNA methylation markers, diagnostic efficiency of the quartet test may be improved in future studies by combining it with antibody-based sorting and cell filtration [36][37][38].…”

An Update on Isolation Methods for Proteomic Studies of Extracellular Vesicles in Biofluids

“…The commonly used isolation methods are either through the physical property of EVs, such as density and size, or based on the chemical property of EVs, such as through interacting with surface proteins of EVs, to achieve isolation [15]. Even though microfluidics-based devices hold promising potential for rapid and efficient isolation of EVs from biofluids, their low processing capacity greatly limits the downstream analysis due to the insufficient amounts of proteins [17]. Hence, this review will discuss the isolation methods, which could provide successful downstream MS-based proteomic EV studies and give an update for the ten-year improvements on isolation methods which are used in MS-based workflow studies.…”

Recent Microfluidic Innovations for Sperm Sorting

“…The latter has attracted more attention recently due to the microfluidic systems' high precision and ease of performing steps, such as culturing, mixing, labeling, attachment to nano-and micro-particles, immune-or aptamer-based capturing, and separation of cells and stem cells. In addition, microfluidic systems can also provide platforms for studying the effects of chemical, physical, and mechanical stimuli on the cells, as well as advanced omics and metabolite analysis [5,[7][8][9][10].…”