Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells via Electrically-Charged Superparamagnetic Nanoprobes

Author : Donglu Shi, Yuxin Wang, Neshwanth Kumar Tene

Abstract :We report a novel approach for the sensitive detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) using electrically-charged magnetic nanoprobes. Our recent findings indicate that negative surface charges on cancer cells are a biophysical manifestation of the Warburg effect, a hallmark of cancer cell metabolism characterized by increased glycolysis. Consequently, the cell surface charge serves as a direct measure of cancer metabolism governed by glycolysis rates. We have established a strong correlation between cancer cell lactate secretion and the presence of net negative electrical charges on cancer cell surfaces. These negative charges result from the cross-membrane movement of mobile ions, as the charge neutrality of most human cells is maintained by ion pumps through the plasma membrane. Superparamagnetic nanoparticles, functionalized to be positively charged, exhibit strong and specific binding to cancer cells. This charge-based targeting offers a new method for capturing and sensitively detecting cancer cells in clinical settings, particularly for detecting CTCs in whole blood. CTCs, which can detach from the original tumor and enter the bloodstream, are believed to play a crucial role in metastasis. We performed direct CTC detection on blood samples with highly encouraging results. Across different disease groups, our method captured CTCs with much higher sensitivity than previously published methods, confirming the efficacy of the charge-based strategy. Potential applications include early cancer diagnosis and evaluation of medical interventions by detecting circulating tumor cells.

Keywords :Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs), Magnetic Nanoprobes, Warburg Effect, Cancer Metabolism, Glycolysis, Cell Surface

Conference Name :International Conference on Plant Nanotechnology and Biotechnology(ICPNB -24)

Conference Place Tainan,Taiwan

Conference Date 16th Dec 2024