Folic acid functionalized copper sulfide nanoparticles for the detection of ovarian cancer cells in flow

Abstract

The disclosure provides a system, compositions, and methods for detecting ovarian cancer cells by photoacoustic flow cytometry.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A photoacoustic flow system comprising:
 a flow chamber configured to support a capillary tube, the flow chamber including a window and a slot;   a pump system coupled to the capillary tube, the pump system including a first syringe pump filled with air and a second syringe pump containing a sample, wherein the first pump injects the air into the capillary tube, and the second pump injects the sample into the capillary tube to produce two-phase flow with alternating air and sample through the capillary tube;   an optical fiber coupled to a laser and configured to transmit light to excite the sample in the capillary tube;   an ultrasound transducer coupled to the window in the flow chamber, wherein the ultrasound transducer detects acoustic signals generated by excitation of the sample;   an inverted fluorescence microscope including a stage for supporting the flow chamber and a camera aligned with the slot in the flow chamber for imaging the sample as it passes through the capillary tube; and   a data acquisition system configured to receive the acoustic signals from the ultrasound transducer and the images from the camera to reconstruct and display a photoacoustic image of the sample.   
     
     
         32 . The photoacoustic flow system of  claim 31 , further comprising an ultrasound pulser/receiver coupled to the ultrasound transducer and configured to receive and amplify the acoustic signals. 
     
     
         33 . The photoacoustic flow system of  claim 31 , wherein the window and the slot are oriented in the flow chamber to provide alignment of the ultrasound transducer and the light from the optical fiber. 
     
     
         34 . The photoacoustic flow system of  claim 31 , wherein the window is oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal axis defined by the capillary tube.