The synergistic effect of periodic immunomagnetics and microfluidics on universally capturing circulating tumor cells

Efficient capture data on circulating tumor cells (CTCs) determines early-stage cancer diagnosis and contributes to timely clinical treatment. We present an enhanced method of capturing CTCs accomplished by a microfluidic device integrated with magnetic field to activate the kinetic motion of in-device magnetic beads. The device, consisting of a microfluidic chamber and two electrode chips applied with pulsatile alternating current in both, is designed based on simulations on the periodicity characteristic of magnetic beads as well as the effect of heat dissipation on cell culture medium manifest. Using MEMS technologies, the prototype is fabricated and assembled. The cell capture experiments based on active magnetic beads are achieved in separation of rare cancer cells (MCF7 cells) with low concentration. The capture rate is estimated up to 88 %, with great potential of dramatically improving detection efficiency in disease diagnostics.