This review provides an overview of recent advances in microengineered cell migration platforms in the focus of the cell migration characteristics influenced by complex tumor microenvironment.

Here, we developed a novel method, CUT (CRISPR-mediated, Ultrasensitive detection of Target DNA)-PCR, which uses CRISPR endonucleases to enrich and detect the extremely small amounts of tumor DNA fragments among the much more abundant wild-type DNA fragments by specifically eliminating the wild-type sequences.

The use of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) as an early diagnostic biomarker and prognostic indicator after surgery or chemotherapy has been suggested for various cancers. This study aimed to evaluate CTCs in patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer and to explore their clinical usefulness in the early diagnosis of gastric cancer.

We could demonstrate real-time monitoring of autophagy induction in fibroblasts by single tumor cells. Retrieval of individual tumor cells from the microfluidic system and their subsequent genomic analysis was possible, allowing us to determine the nature of the factor mediating tumor-stroma interactions.

Here, we presented a rapid, label-free, and highly sensitive method for EV isolation and quantification using a lab-ona-disc integrated with two nanofilters (Exodisc). Starting from raw biological samples, such as cell-culture supernatant (CCS) or cancer-patient urine, fully automated enrichment of EVs in the size range of 20 nm to 600 nm was achieved within 30 min using a tabletop-sized centrifugal microfluidic system.

In this work, inspired by antifouling membranes with liquid-filled pores in nature, clog-free, highly sensitive (95.9 ± 3.1% recovery rate), selective (>2.5 log depletion of white blood cells), rapid (>3 mL/min), and label-free isolation of viable CTCs from whole blood without prior sample treatment is achieved using a stand-alone lab-on-a-disc system equipped with Fluid Assisted Separation Technology (FAST).

Here, we report on a lab-on-a-disc incorporating individually addressable diaphragm valves (ID valves) that enable the reversible and thermally stable actuation of multiple valves with unprecedented ease and robustness. These ID valves are configured from an elastic epoxy diaphragm embedded on a 3D printed push-and-twist valve, which can be easily actuated by a simple automatic driver unit.

Utilizing a unique 3D microfluidic device, we here showed that breast cancers (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-436 and SK-BR-3)-derived soluble factors increase the migration of DCs toward CCL19. This study demonstrated new possible evasion strategy of TNBCs utilizing their soluble factors that exploit the directionality of DCs toward chemokine responses, leading to the building of inflammatory milieu which may support their own growth.

This paper reports simultaneous determination of total phenolic contents(TPC) and antioxiant activity(AA) of beverages using lab-on-a-disc. The TPC and AA of 8 different beverage samples, including various fruit juices, tea, wine and beer, were analyzed. Unlike conventional labor-intensive processes for measuring TPC and AA, our fully automated platform offers one-step operation and rapid analysis.

This protocol demonstrates how to achieve femto molar detection sensitivity of proteins in 10 µL of whole blood within 30 min. This can be achieved by using electrospun nanofibrous mats integrated in a lab-on-a-disc, which offers high surface area as well as effective mixing and washing for enhanced signal-to-noise ratio.

• Pre-Tfh cells are found proximal to CD8α− DCs in the MZ bridging channels.

• The role of IL-6 secreted from CD8α− DCs is minor in inducing Tfh cells.

• CD8α− DCs dominantly induce Tfh cells over other APCs.

By identifying the finest difference between the point-of-care testing and extreme point-of-care infrastructure, this review captures the evolving diagnostic needs of developing countries paired with infrastructural challenges with technological hurdles to healthcare delivery in extreme point-of-care settings. In particular, the requirements for making centrifugal diagnostic devices viable in developing countries are discussed based on a detailed analysis of the demands in different clinical settings including the distinctive needs of extreme point-of-care settings

We present an overview of the current EV isolation and characterization methods in addition to their applications and limitations. Furthermore, EVs as the potential emerging biomarkers in cancer management and their clinical implementation are briefly discussed.

We have developed a fully integrated centrifugal microfluidic device for rapid on-site quantification of lipids from microalgal samples. The fully automated serial process involving cell sedimentation and lysis, liquid-liquid extraction, and colorimetric detection of lipid contents was accomplished within 13 min using a lab-on-a-disc.

Chronoamperometric recordings of a solution in movement mediated by a paper wicking are converted into a given signature hydrodynamic conditions of the porous material. The electrochemical sensor is used to screen porous material characteristics and test fluid flow modifiers potency.

We present a highly efficient lab-on-a-disc composed of TiO2nanofibrous mat for sensitive detection of serum proteins with a broad dynamic range, with only 10 μL of whole blood within 30 min. The TiO2 nanofibers provide high specific surface area as well as active functional groups to capture large amounts of antibodies on the surface.

In this paper, we demonstrated significantly enhanced antibacterial activity of hierarchical anatase TiO2 NFs against Staphylococcus aureus in the presence of UV light. Furthermore, the uniform deposition of a large quantity of Ag nanoparticles on the surface of the TiO2 NFs ensured a significant enhancement of the antibacterial performance, even under dark conditions.

We report the surface modification of thermoplastic nanochannels and an assessment of the associated surface charge density, zeta potential and electroosmotic flow (EOF). Carboxylated PMMA nanochannels were efficient for the transport and elongation of λ-DNA while these same DNA molecules were unable to translocate through aminated nanochannels with lower surface charge density and zeta potential.

In this paper, we propose a centrifugal-force-based size-selective CTC isolation platform that can isolate and enumerate CTCs from whole blood within 30 s with high purity. Overall, our CTC isolation device enables rapid and label-free isolation of CTCs with high purity, which should greatly improve downstream molecular analyses of captured CTCs.

This paper demonstrates the first semiconductor-based nanofiber sensor suspended on carbon electrodes that has achieved by a relatively simple and cost-effective electrospinning method. Furthermore, these sensors demonstrate a high sensitivity, as well as a stable ohmic contact, due to the large surface area of the TiO2 NWs and the carbon-carbon contact between the suspended TiO2/C NFs and carbon electrodes.