The detection of CTCs in a blood sample is a challenging task due to their rarity and variety. We develop a new label-free and all-optical approach at the lab-on-chip scale for the detection of CTCs based on morphological biomarkers. In particular, we design a microfluidic device to be combined with a phase-contrast tomography system to carry out quantitative measurements of the three-dimensional structure of each single cell in a blood sample. In such device, two aspects are conjugated: on the one hand, the cells need to perform at least one complete rotation within the field of view of the imaging apparatus; on the other hand, the highest possible throughput has to be achieved, yet without deforming the cells significantly, which would impede their tomographic reconstruction. In this contribution, the finite-element-simulation-based preliminary design of a microfluidic device that would allow the achievement of the aforementioned objectives for cells with different shape and deformability is presented.
We present a cost-effective and highly-portable plastic prototype that can be interfaced with a cell phone to implement an optofluidic imaging cytometry platform. It is based on a PMMA microfluidic chip that fits inside an opto-mechanical platform fabricated by a 3D printer. The fluorescence excitation and imaging is performed using the LED and the CMOS from the cell phone increasing the compactness of the system. A custom developed application is used to analyze the images and provide a value of particle concentration.
Microfluidic optical stretchers are valuable optofluidic devices for studying single cell mechanical properties. These usually consist of a single microfluidic channel where cells, with dimensions ranging from 5 to 20 μm are trapped and manipulated through optical forces induced by two counter-propagating laser beams. Recently, monolithic optical stretchers have been directly fabricated in fused silica by femtosecond laser micromachining (FLM). Such a technology allows writing in a single step in the substrate volume both the microfluidic channel and the optical waveguides with a high degree of precision and flexibility. However, this method is very slow and cannot be applied to cheaper materials like polymers. Therefore, novel technological platforms are needed to boost the production of such devices on a mass scale.
In this work, we propose integration of FLM with micro-injection moulding (μIM) as a novel route towards the cost-effective and flexible manufacturing of polymeric Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) devices. In particular, we have fabricated and assembled a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microfluidic optical stretcher by exploiting firstly FLM to manufacture a metallic mould prototype with reconfigurable inserts. Afterwards, such mould was employed for the production, through μIM, of the two PMMA thin plates composing the device. The microchannel with reservoirs and lodgings for the optical fibers delivering the laser radiation for cell trapping were reproduced on one plate, while the other included access holes to the channel. The device was assembled by direct fs-laser welding, ensuring sealing of the channel and avoiding thermal deformation and/or contamination.
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