Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) Separation from Blood Constituents Using A Dielectrophoresis-Based Microdevice

Numerous studies have focused on circulating tumor cell separation, given its pivotal role in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. This study presents an effective microfluidic system that integrates a specialized dielectrophoresis structure, namely the facing-electrode configuration dielectrophoresis (FEC-DEP) structure, to isolate circulating tumor cells from various blood constituents, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The FEC-DEP structure comprises a bottom slanted electrode array positioned parallel to a basic rectangular top electrode. These parallel electrodes generate a dielectrophoresis-induced non-homogeneous electric field. Therefore, when the FEC-DEP is integrated into a flow, it can guide different objects in the flow along distinct trajectories. Consequently, objects with similar characteristics can move together within the same stream. This design has the potential to reduce reliance on particle position within the microchannel and streamline the microfabrication process. The finite element method was employed for numerical analysis of the separation process, and device parameters were adjusted to optimize performance. The results demonstrate the ability of the microfluidic device to efficiently enrich tumor cells, achieving a high efficiency rate of approximately 80%, in a label-free and cost-effective manner.