Detection of Detect Circulating Tumor Cells via Hydrodynamic Cavitation on a Chip

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are essential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis. Although various devices have been designed to detect, enumerate, and isolate CTCs from blood, some of these devices could have some drawbacks, such as the requirement of labeling, long process time, and high cost. Here, we aim to develop a microfluidic device based on the concept of “hydrodynamic cavitation-on-chip (HCOC)”, which can detect CTCs in the order of minutes. The working principle relies on the difference of the required inlet pressure for cavitation inception of working fluids when they pass through the microfluidic device. The interface among the solid/floating particles, liquid, and vapor phases plays an important role in the strength of the fluid to withstand the rupture and cavitation formation. 
Cavitation is a term used to describe a process involving the nucleation, growth and implosion of cavities/bubbles filled with vapor or gas. Such cavities/bubbles are formed in a liquid when the static pressure at operating temperature drops below the vapor saturation pressure of the liquid. In the proposed project, the sudden pressure drop will be realized in a microfluidic device that contains a micro-flow restrictive element (micro-orifice with nano-structured functional surfaces). Within the scope of the project, we will pass the biological fluid, in which the cancer cell content will be enriched in advance with the use of inertial microfluidics, through a micro-orifice with nano-structured functional surfaces that will be effective in the initiation of cavitation and facilitate the formation of cavitation flows. The onset of cavitation will occur earlier with the content of tumor cells (CTC) circulating in the liquid and will be detected by an acoustic sensor suitable for a microfluidic chip. Based on the difference in cavitation onset (early onset with biological fluid with CTC), we will develop a Lab-on-Chip Diagnostic device.The PURE students will gain experience in microfabrication and related biological characterization.