Methods of and devices for capturing circulating tumor cells

Abstract

A device and methods are provided for efficient and quick capture of target cells through a main microchannel having capture elements immobilized thereon and manipulating a velocity profile of a sample as it passes through the main microchannel. The cell capture device may have a main microchannel with a depth slightly larger than the diameter of the target cells and a plurality of side microchannels. The side microchannels may have a depth smaller than the diameter of the target cells. The device and methods may be used for early cancer detection.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of capturing target cells, comprising:
 passing a sample through a main microchannel having capture elements immobilized on at least one surface of the main microchannel;   manipulating a velocity profile of the sample as it passes through the main microchannel such that the target cells move laterally in the main microchannel; and   filtering non target cell portions of the sample out of the main microchannel,   wherein the size of a cross-section of the main microchannel is in the order of a diameter of the target cells such that an encounter rate between the target cells and the capture elements is increased;   wherein an inlet flow rate of the main microchannel is greater than an outlet flow rate of the main microchannel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet flow rate of the main microchannel is approximately 0.75 μL/min. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet flow rate of the main microchannel is approximately 1 mm/sec to approximately 2 mm/sec. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample is a fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the sample is one of whole blood, urine, water, and a fecal sample. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non target cell portions of the sample are filtered out using at least one side channel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the capture elements are one of antibodies and aptamers. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target cells are stem cells. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target cells are circulating tumor cells. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target cells are bacteria cells.