Abstract

Microfluidic Approaches to Isolating Micro- and Nanoscale Circulating Biomarkers for Cancer Diagnosis and Monitoring

Chwee Teck Lim, Provost’s Chair Professor, National University of Singapore

Microfluidics has emerged as a powerful technology not only for biological but also clinical research and applications. For example, the ability to manipulate and analyse minute volume of fluids and samples has led to a wealth of new biological assays which can provide unique approaches for better manipulation and capture of micro- and even nanoscale circulating biomarkers such as cells, extracellular vesicles and exosomes. With these new tools, researchers are not only being led to new questions and discoveries, but also applications in disease diagnosis, monitoring and even therapy. Here, I will present several microfluidic technologies that we have developed for both biological and clinical applications relating to diseases such as cancer.  These includes microfluidic chips for rare diseased cell separation and culture as well as capture of extracellular vesicles and exosomes.