Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are tumor cells present in the blood. CTCs have attracted much attention as a new tumor marker, because their analysis provides useful information for monitoring cancer progress. In this study, we developed cell-capture and release methods using three-dimensional (3D) microfiber fabrics without damaging the cells. Using functional peptides containing sequences from a polystyrene-binding site and a cleavable site for collagenase type IV, immobilized antibodies on the peptides were able to specifically capture MCF-7 cells in a few minutes and release the captured cells from 3D microfiber fabrics incorporating a vacuum system. The efficiency of cell capture was around 80% and that of the cell release was over 90%. The released cells proliferated normally in culture medium, suggesting that our system will be applicable for the culture and analysis of CTCs.

Statement of Significance

In this paper, we report cell-capture and release methods using enzyme-cleavable peptides immobilized on microfiber fabrics which has microporous polymeric three-dimensional structures. Detachment and collection of the selectively captured cancer cells are required for ex vivo culture and their further analysis, whereas the cell detachment methods developed so far might cause cell damage, even if cell viability is high enough. Therefore, specific attachment and gentle detachment from the device are required for the accurate analysis of cells. In this study, for capture and release of cancer cells we designed the peptide cleavable by collagenase type IV, which has no target molecule in cells. Our system will be useful for further CTC analysis and might lead to more accurate cancer diagnosis.

中文翻译：

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使用固定有酶切肽的聚合物微纤维快速高效地捕获和释放癌细胞

循环肿瘤细胞（CTC）是血液中存在的肿瘤细胞。CTC作为一种新的肿瘤标记物已引起了广泛关注，因为它们的分析为监测癌症的进展提供了有用的信息。在这项研究中，我们开发了使用三维（3D）超细纤维织物的细胞捕获和释放方法，而不会损坏细胞。使用含有来自聚苯乙烯结合位点和IV型胶原酶可裂解位点的序列的功能肽，肽段上固定的抗体能够在几分钟内特异性捕获MCF-7细胞，并通过真空将3D超细纤维织物释放出捕获的细胞系统。细胞捕获的效率约为80％，而细胞释放的效率则超过90％。释放的细胞在培养基中正常增殖，

重要声明

在本文中，我们报道了使用酶可裂解肽固定在具有微孔聚合物三维结构的超细纤维织物上的细胞捕获和释放方法。离体培养和进一步分析需要分离和收集选择性捕获的癌细胞，而到目前为止开发的细胞分离方法可能会导致细胞损伤，即使细胞活力足够高。因此，精确分析细胞需要特定的连接和从设备上的轻柔拆卸。在这项研究中，为了捕获和释放癌细胞，我们设计了可被IV型胶原酶切割的肽，该酶在细胞中没有靶分子。我们的系统可用于进一步的CTC分析，并可能导致更准确的癌症诊断。