Micro-Array Devices for Capturing Cells in Blood and Methods of Their Use

Abstract

The present disclosure provides micro-array devices for capturing cells in blood and methods of their use. In some aspects, a method for counting cells in a blood sample is provided, the method comprising applying a blood sample onto a CNT device; allowing cells in the blood sample to differentially settle on the CNT device, and identifying and counting cells of preselected type in the blood sample.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 ) A method for specific detection of cellular targets in the blood sample comprising:
 applying a blood sample onto a CNT device;   receiving an electrical signal from the CNT device, the signal being indicative of interactions between cellular targets in the blood sample and the CNT device; and   applying a statistical method to distinguish between specific interactions and non-specific interactions.   
     
     
         2 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cellular targets are breast cancer cells. 
     
     
         3 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein the CNT device comprises:
 a substrate;   a thin film of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) disposed on the substrate; the CNTS being functionalized with one or more antibodies capable to bind to a cellular target to be captured; and   a plurality of conductive contacts disposed on the substrate and electrically coupled to the thin film, wherein the plurality of conductive contacts are configured detect a capture of the cellular targets by the one or more antibodies.   
     
     
         4 ) The method of  claim 3 , wherein the film is formed from a single layer of carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         5 ) The method of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more antibodies include with EpCAM and anti-Her2 conjugated to the film with 1-Pyrenebutanoic Acid Succinimidyl Ester (PASE). 
     
     
         6 ) The method of  claim 3 , wherein the film has a density may be between 3 and 5 nanotubes per micrometer. 
     
     
         7 ) The method of  claim 3 , wherein the film is functionalized with 1-Pyrenebutanoic Acid Succinimidyl Ester (PASE) to conjugate one or more antibodies to the film. 
     
     
         8 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein the blood sample comprises the cellular targets comprising cells of pre-selected type and the blood further comprises cells of non-pre-selected type, and the specific interactions are between the cells of pre-selected type and the CNT device and the non-specific interactions are between the cells of non-pre-selected type and the CNT device. 
     
     
         9 ) The method of  claim 8  further comprising upon the identification of the specific interactions, counting the captured cells of the pre-selected type in the blood sample. 
     
     
         10 ) A method for specific detection of cellular targets in a blood sample comprising:
 applying a blood sample onto a CNT device;   receiving an electrical signal from the CNT device, the signal being indicative of interactions between the blood sample and the CNT device;   assigning the electrical signal into a zone of a zone classification scheme, wherein the zone is indicative of interactions between the blood sample and the CNT device; and   distinguishing between specific interactions and non-specific interactions based on the assigned zone.   
     
     
         11 ) The method of  claim 10  wherein the cellular targets are breast cancer cells. 
     
     
         12 ) The method of  claim 10  wherein the CNT device comprises:
 a substrate; 
 a thin film of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) disposed on the substrate, the CNTS being functionalized with one or more antibodies capable to bind to a cellular target to be captured; and 
 a plurality of conductive contacts disposed on the substrate and electrically coupled to the thin film, wherein the plurality of conductive contacts are configured detect a capture of the cellular targets by the one or more antibodies. 
 
     
     
         13 ) The method of  claim 12  wherein the film is formed from a single layer of carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         14 ) The method of  claim 12  wherein the one or more antibodies include with EpCAM and anti-Her2 conjugated to the film with 1-Pyrenebutanoic Acid Succinimidyl Ester (PASE). 
     
     
         15 ) A method for rapid and label-free capturing of cellular targets in a blood sample comprising:
 applying a blood sample onto a carbon nanotubes (CNT) device;   allowing cellular targets in the blood sample to adsorb onto the CNT device; and   identifying and counting the cellular targets absorbed onto the CNT device.   
     
     
         16 ) The method of  claim 15 , wherein the CNT device comprises:
 a substrate;   a thin film of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) disposed on the substrate, the CNTS being functionalized with one or more antibodies capable to bind to a cellular target to be captured; and   a plurality of conductive contacts disposed on the substrate and electrically coupled to the thin film, wherein the plurality of conductive contacts are configured detect a capture of the cellular targets by the one or more antibodies.   
     
     
         17 ) The method of  claim 16 , wherein the film is formed from a single layer of carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         18 ) The method of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more antibodies include with EpCAM and anti-Her2 conjugated to the film with 1-Pyrenebutanoic Acid Succinimidyl Ester (PASE). 
     
     
         19 ) The method of  claim 15 , wherein the cellular targets are breast cancer cells.