The University of Massachusetts Amherst

Economical Surface Treatment for Harvesting Epithelial Cells from Biological Fluids

LEAD INVENTOR:
Maria M. Santore, Ph.D.
 
PRODUCT OPPORTUNITIES

•       Engineered surfaces for selectively harvesting epithelial cells from biological fluids

•       Surface treated microfluidic devices or glass beads for cancer diagnostics

•       Engineered surfaces for cell-sorting applicationsfunction

 
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES OVER OTHER KNOWN TECHNOLOGIES FOR CELL CAPTURE

PERFORMANCE FACTORS

Antibody- or Selectin-coated Microfluidic Channels

Antibody- or Selectin-coated Functionalized Magnetic Beads

DNA Aptamers

THIS INVENTION

Does not require expensive and unstable biomolecular materials for cell capture

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Distinguishing cells having different levels of the same surface adhesion marker

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Epithelial cell capture in complex biological fluids

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Unknown

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Tunable cell-type selectivity without the need of different targeting agents

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TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION
This invention provides economical, bio-interactive surfaces and surface treatment methods for selective capture of targeted epithelial cells or other cell types from cell mixtures or complex biological fluids. Preparation or fabrication of the engineered surfaces provided by this technology does not require the use of expensive and unstable biomolecular materials, and the resulting surfaces can distinguish different cell types or cells that express different levels of the same surface adhesion marker. Such engineered surfaces can be used as economical tools for assessment of cancer risk, cancer diagnosis, and tracking of the effectiveness of cancer treatments, among other potential applications.
ABOUT THE LEAD INVENTOR
Dr. Maria M. Santore is Professor of Polymer Science and Chemical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research group creates new materials for biomedical applications.
AVAILABILITY:
Available for Licensing and/or Sponsored Research
DOCKET:
UMA 14-045
PATENT STATUS:
Patent Issued
Contact:
Nikki Hoang
Licensing Officer
University of Massachusetts
nikkihoang@research.umass.edu
Inventor(s):
Maria Santore
Kathleen Arcaro
Surachate Kalasin
Keywords: