High-throughput isolation of CTCs by unconventional spiral microchannel

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are scarce cancer cells rarely spread from primary or metastatic tumors inside the patients’ bloodstream. Determining the genetic characteristics of these paranormal cells can provide great data for guiding the staging and treatment of cancer, therefore, further research on their characteristics and features has considerable importance, hence, precise prognosis and therapies are urgent. Accordingly, cell focusing has been implemented by using microfluidic systems as an efficient method of counting and enriching CTCs. In order to isolate breast cancer cells (BCCs) by maintaining cell viability and achieving continuous high throughput, Passive, size-based, label free focus is preferred based on hydrodynamic forces. Cell focusing positions clearly showed that it was possible to isolate BCCs (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) along with WBCs from cell mixtures with high efficiency and high throughput using an unconventional spiral microchannel by means of combination of long loops and U turn at moderate Reynolds number about 90, Therefor we offer an unconventional low-cost label free spiral microfluidic device for isolating both CTCs and lysed white blood cells (WBCs) at a flow rate about 1.7 mL/ min and high efficiency and Purity (more than 90%).