Hyperuniform Microchip for Non-Destructive CTC Profiling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for identifying and categorizing circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are destructive and fail to determine their metastatic capabilities, as they focus on treating and preventing cancer rather than understanding cancer progression, particularly during the metastasis stage where CTCs exhibit high heterogeneity.
Innovation Solution
A hyperuniform-structured microchip system with a substrate, microfluidic enclosure, and microposts in a specific pattern, combined with surface coatings and imaging devices, allows for non-destructive identification and profiling of CTCs by analyzing cell adhesion forces and flow patterns, enabling the differentiation of CTC subpopulations based on their surface markers and metastatic potential.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current CTC identification methods are used, then cancer treatment and prevention can be advanced, but CTC viability is destroyed and metastatic capability cannot be assessed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates optical copies (images) of CTCs using fluorescence microscopy and confocal imaging. These optical copies preserve all morphological and fluorescent information about the CTCs including their metastatic capabilities, while the actual cells remain viable for future analysis. The imaging process generates detailed digital representations that can be analyzed without destroying the original cells.
2Ease of manufacture
If destructive CTC identification methods are used, then cell processing can be simplified, but future testing and metastatic assessment are prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates comprehensive optical copies of CTCs through multi-channel fluorescence imaging and confocal microscopy. These digital images capture all necessary information for current analysis while preserving the physical cells for future studies. The copying approach eliminates the need to choose between simple processing and future versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary imaging and characterization of CTCs before any potentially destructive processing. By capturing complete optical information first, the system ensures that future testing can proceed with the preserved viable cells, maintaining adaptability while simplifying current processing steps.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional CTC analysis methods are used, then standard protocols can be followed, but heterogeneity among CTC subpopulations cannot be resolved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different fluorescent markers to highlight specific local properties of CTCs - membrane markers, cytoplasmic markers, and nuclear markers. This local quality approach allows differentiation of various CTC subpopulations based on their specific marker expression patterns while following standardized immunofluorescence protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from conventional two-dimensional imaging to three-dimensional confocal imaging of CTCs. This dimensional enhancement provides depth information and enables precise characterization of CTC morphology and marker distribution, resolving heterogeneity among subpopulations while maintaining protocol standardization through established confocal microscopy techniques.
Data Source
AI summary
a hyperuniform-structured microchip is disclosed, which is capable of providing viable resolution of CTC subpopulations supporting the ability to determine whether there is a correlation between CTC heterogeneity and tumor progression.