Lab-on-PCB-based micro-cytometer for circulating tumor cells detection and enumeration

Abstract

Impedance-based microfluidic cytometer has been introduced to provide a companion diagnostic platform in biological cells analysis. In the conventional way, microfluidic impedance cytometer requires accurately patterning metal electrodes in the corresponding location on silicon/glass substrate, which is expensive and time-consuming. In this short communication, we demonstrate a disposable impedance-based microfluidic cytometer above the commercially available printed circuit board (PCB) with pre-deposited copper electrode, which is reusable. In this experiment, red blood cells (RBCs) and mixture of RBCs, white blood cells (WBCs), and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are utilized to test the function of the proposed device, which indicated that it can differentiate the WBCs and CTCs from the mixture of the three types of cells. After each sample test, the upper microfluidic cytometer is disposed which shows the great commercial potential in point-of-care test for clinical application.