Cell Separation Device for Multiple Applications
- Detailed Technology Description
- IntroductionDue to the high incidence rates of cancer inthe past decades, there is currently a high demand for new and effective diagnosticsfor this deadly disease. Unfortunately, the tests that are now available lackreliability, require multiple expensive tests in order to produce a diagnosis,and do not distinguish between slow or fast growing cancers. Tissue engineering is an area withinregenerative medicine that involves the combining of cells, scaffolds, andbioactive molecules in order to restore, maintain or improve biologicaltissues. Part of this process involves the evaluation of cells before they can actuallybe used in the tissue, in order to determine their functional properties.Current tests are limited, however, as many cells lack common surface markers anduniversal morphological traits. Therefore, it is difficult to evaluate cellfunction directly and tests are very costly.
- *Abstract
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Summary
The researchers have created a device that cantransport biological material such as living cells, nutrients, growth factors,and waste materials, among others. Due to the unique design of the inventionand its ability to differentially transport various cell types, it can be used ina wide variety of applications, such as cellular diagnostic testing. Thisincludes a method for identifying and separating cancer cells from healthycells in a cellular solution, as well as identifying the type of cancer cell thatis present. The information regarding cell type is obtained by evaluatingvertical motility and displacement – features that are typically exhibited bycancer cells and are related to the cell’s ability to metastasize. Some of theadvantages of this device for use in cancer applications include itssimplicity, its capability to using any cellular solution (urine, blood,biopsy) to evaluate cancer cells, and its use for a variety of cancer types. Italso produces rapid and accurate results and is inexpensive to use, as comparedto other methods.
The invention can also be used in the formationof tissue engineering scaffolds by recruiting and organizing cellular movement,more effectively transporting biological materials. It can serve to evaluatecells pre-operation as well. The design of the device allows for directlydetermining functional properties of cells and is able to apply cells withhoming and motile abilities. It also provides a method to characterize thefunctionality of the cells and is inexpensive, as compared to other techniques.
Inventors
Dr. Leidong Mao, Associate Professor, UGA College of Engineering
Wujun Zhao, UGA College of Engineering
- Country/Region
- USA
