Project description
A microfluidics chip for circulating tumour cell detection
Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are a rare population of cancer cells that have detached from the primary tumour or metastatic sites and circulates in the blood. CTCs are considered valuable biomarkers by potentially providing information regarding diagnosis, prognosis and follow-up of treatment. However, CTC scarcity has posed a particular challenge to their detection. Funded by the European Innovation Council (EIC), the BRIGHT project brings a proprietary technology for the detection of CTCs which is based on the size and aberrant shape of these cells compared to other cells in the blood. The microfluidic chip supports the isolation and retention of CTCs for further investigation of phenotype and drug resistance.
Objective
Through advanced microengineering and nanotechnology, we have developed a proprietary microfluidic-based liquid biopsy device, the RUBYchip™ (PCT/EP2016/078406). This technology allows for the isolation of all types of CTCs, keeping them viable and enabling the analysis of their phenotypic, genetic and functional characteristics, enabling unprecedented frequent monitoring of cancer progression in a minimally invasive and cost-efficient way. Our chip isolates 70% of the very scarce CTCs from a 7.5mL blood sample of a cancer patient in less than 3 h and without the need of sample pre‐processing. This dramatic improvement in the sensitivity compared to competition is enabled by a unique microfilter network embedded in a microfluidic device that separates the CTCs from the healthy cells based on their size and deformability. Furthermore, the RUBYchip enables automation reducing inter-laboratory and inter-user dependence and ensuring reproducible analysis of CTCs.
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Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-EIC-ACC-BF - HORIZON EIC Accelerator Blended FinanceCoordinator
4700314 Braga
Portugal
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.