Fluidic Multivalent Membrane Nanointerface Enables Synergetic Enrichment of Circulating Tumor Cells with High Efficiency and Viability

J Am Chem Soc. 2020 Mar 11;142(10):4800-4806. doi: 10.1021/jacs.9b13782. Epub 2020 Feb 20.

Abstract

The ubiquitous biomembrane interface, with its dynamic lateral fluidity, allows membrane-bound components to rearrange and localize for high-affinity multivalent ligand-receptor interactions in diverse life activities. Inspired by this, we herein engineered a fluidic multivalent nanointerface by decorating a microfluidic chip with aptamer-functionalized leukocyte membrane nanovesicles for high-performance isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). This fluidic biomimetic nanointerface with active recruitment-binding afforded significant affinity enhancement by 4 orders of magnitude, exhibiting 7-fold higher capture efficiency compared to a monovalent aptamer functionalized-chip in blood. Meanwhile, this soft nanointerface inherited the biological benefits of a natural biomembrane, minimizing background blood cell adsorption and maintaining excellent CTC viability (97.6%). Using the chip, CTCs were successfully detected in all cancer patient samples tested (17/17), suggesting the high potential of this fluidity-enhanced multivalent binding strategy in clinical applications. We expect this bioengineered interface strategy will lead to the design of innovative biomimetic platforms in the biomedical field by leveraging natural cell-cell interaction with a natural biomaterial.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / chemistry*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry*
  • Cell Separation / instrumentation
  • Cell Separation / methods*
  • Cell Survival
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lab-On-A-Chip Devices
  • Leukocytes / chemistry
  • Male
  • Microfluidics / instrumentation
  • Microfluidics / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / chemistry*

Substances

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide