Optical Detection of Cancer Cells Using Lab-on-a-Chip

Abstract

The global need for accurate and efficient cancer cell detection in biomedicine and clinical diagnosis has driven extensive research and technological development in the field. Precision, high-throughput, non-invasive separation, detection, and classification of individual cells are critical requirements for successful technology. Lab-on-a-chip devices offer enormous potential for solving biological and medical problems and have become a priority research area for microanalysis and manipulating cells. This paper reviews recent developments in the detection of cancer cells using the microfluidics-based lab-on-a-chip method, focusing on describing and explaining techniques that use optical phenomena and a plethora of probes for sensing, amplification, and immobilization. The paper describes how optics are applied in each experimental method, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages. The discussion includes a summary of current challenges and prospects for cancer diagnosis.

Advancing Healthcare: Synergizing Biosensors and Machine Learning for Early Cancer Diagnosis

“…Optical detection of cells implies the use of optical techniques and instruments for the detection, classification, and stratification of cells [ 41 ]. Various types of optical-based biosensors have been developed and utilized for diverse biological and clinical applications, such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR), optical waveguides, optical resonators, and fluorescence [ 3 , 58 , 59 ]. Optical biosensors have several advantages, including their high sensitivity, real-time detection, label-free analysis, small form factor, and low cost [ 41 ].…”

“…Optical biosensors have several advantages, including their high sensitivity, real-time detection, label-free analysis, small form factor, and low cost [ 41 ]. These characteristics make optical biosensors an appealing option for integration into lab-on-a-chip devices, which seek to carry out sample preparation, research, and detection in a miniaturized and automated format [ 59 ]. In the next section, we will review the latest developments of optical-based biosensor devices in the identification and clinical diagnosis of various types of cancers, as well as data analysis with machine learning techniques.…”

Maximizing analytical precision: exploring the advantages of ratiometric strategy in fluorescence, Raman, electrochemical, and mass spectrometry detection

“…A powerful SERS technique can enhance the Raman scattering signal by several orders of magnitude through interactions between molecules and metal nanoparticles or plasmon resonance on rough metal surfaces (Langer et al, 2020;García-Hernández et al, 2023). Electromagnetic enhancement and chemical enhancement that are proposed to contribute to the SERS effect are now generally accepted in the field Santhoshkumar et al, 2023;Zhao et al, 2023).…”

Circulating Tumor Cells Adhesion: Application in Biosensors

“…According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), cancer cases will increase by approximately 50% between 2020 and 2040 [ 3 ]. Early detection and isolation of cancer cells is essential for understanding and treating this type of disease [ 4 ]. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) refer to a population of cells that have detached from the tumor and are circulating in the peripheral blood and/or lymphatic system.…”