Advances in Microfluidic Technology for Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Advances in Microfluidic Technology for Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Ayda Refaei,1,*Faramarz Khosravi,2
1. Bachelor's student, Microbiology group, Faculty of Basic Sciences, East Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. 2. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Introduction: Breast cancer continues to pose a considerable public health concern on a global scale, thereby necessitating the development of innovative diagnostic methodologies. Microfluidic technology, characterized by its precision and operational efficiency, presents significant advancements in the early identification and diagnosis of breast cancer. Microfluidics encompasses the manipulation of fluids at the microscale, facilitating the meticulous control and examination of diminutive samples. This technological paradigm is particularly advantageous in medical diagnostics due to its capability to execute intricate laboratory procedures on a singular microchip.
Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar to identify relevant studies on microfluidic applications in breast cancer diagnosis. Key terms included "microfluidics," "breast cancer," "diagnosis," "circulating tumor cells," "exosomes," and "ctDNA." A total of 27 articles were identified with the intention of conducting a thorough examination and analysis of this topic.
Results: Microfluidic devices have demonstrated significant potential in various aspects of breast cancer diagnosis:
Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs): Microfluidic platforms can efficiently isolate and analyze CTCs from blood samples, providing valuable insights into tumor progression. Aptamer-Based Sensors: These sophisticated sensors utilize aptamers to selectively bind and identify CTCs, thereby providing exceptional sensitivity without necessitating the use of labeling agents.
Exosome Analysis: Microfluidic techniques enable the isolation and characterization of exosomes, extracellular vesicles released by cancer cells, which contain biomarkers associated with breast cancer. Immunoaffinity-Based Methods: Microfluidic platforms can effectively isolate exosomes through the application of antibodies, facilitating the examination of their molecular composition.
Cell-Free Tumor DNA (ctDNA): Microfluidic devices can detect ctDNA, a non-invasive biomarker for early cancer detection and monitoring.
Conclusion: Microfluidic technology offers a promising paradigm for breast cancer diagnosis, providing enhanced sensitivity, specificity, and early detection capabilities. This technology also enhances the accuracy of cancer biomarker identification when compared with conventional assays. By enabling the analysis of circulating tumor cells, exosomes, and ctDNA, microfluidic devices have the potential to revolutionize the management of breast cancer. However, further research and standardization are necessary to fully realize their clinical potential.