Characterizing Cell Surface Protein Expression & Nanocytometry

University of Chicago
posted on 06/08/2009

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Chicago have developed a new approach to flow cytometry that uses an integrated microfluidic chip functionalized to interact with the surface of particles and sort cells based on their surface protein expression that can be integrated into a portable, point-of-care apparatus. The technology allows for significant improvements over conventional flow cytometry, because the system permits label free signal detection, extreme reproducibility and sensitivity, and cell separations using very few cells. This type of point-of-care diagnostics can be used for various applications, including: characterizing expression of cell surface markers in acute leukemia cells, measuring patient responses to cytotoxic chemotherapy, isolating circulating tumor and endothelial cells from patients with solid tumors, and isolating circulating hematopoietic precursor cells from patients.

Suggested Uses

Characterizing expression of cell surface markers in acute leukemia cells for rapid point of care testing to facilitate diagnosis and prognosis.
Measuring patient responses to cytotoxic chemotherapy by determining degree of chemotherapy-induced apoptosis
Isolating circulating tumor and endothelial cells from patients with solid tumors
Isolating circulating hematopoietic precursor cells from patients

Advantages

Label-free direct signal detection>
Improved sensitivity and reproducibility
Extreme rapidity
Small sample size
Easily operated by a lay person, patient, doctor or nurse
Low cost electrical detection
Handheld device able to provide point-of-care testing

Innovation Details

Detailed Description

Conventional flow cytometry has made valuable contributions to cancer diagnostics and management as well as to the understanding of fundamental cancer cell biology. Flow cytometry is used routinely in the clinical diagnosis of hematological malignancies, in tumor immunology to define lymphocyte subsets, and in basic research to facilitate cell separation based on the expression of particular proteins or phospholipids at the cell surface. However, it requires thousands of cells for each sample as well as labeling and careful manipulation of these cells prior to measurement. Furthermore, the instruments are bulky and large and require specialized training, making it ill-suited to point-of-care analysis. There is a need, then, for systems that can improve upon physicians� ability to detect minimal residual disease states and upon scientists� ability to study cell populations that occur in very small numbers.

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Chicago have developed a new approach to flow cytometry called "NanoCytometry." This novel technology uses an integrated microfluidic chip which is functionalized to interact with the surface of particles to sort cells based on their surface protein expression. Identification of the particles is achieved through electrical measurements of changes in resistance and current, which can be integrated into a portable, point-of-care apparatus. The technology allows for significant improvements over conventional flow cytometry, because the system permits label free signal detection, extreme reproducibility and sensitivity, and cell separations using very few cells. By developing a more sensitive technique to perform cell separations, in addition to one that relies on fewer cells, we anticipate that NanoCytometry could provide an important new technology applicable to cancer. For instance, NanoCytometry could be used to improve upon physicians' ability to detect minimal residual disease states and upon a scientist's ability to study cell populations that occur in very small numbers such as stem cells.

File Number: 1312

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