Inverse 3D ‘lab-on-a-chip’ polymeric microfilms for selective capture of circulating tumor cells from patients' blood

) measurements, and demonstrated micropores ranging from 18-26 μm. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) revealed enhanced cell attachment on the polymeric-blend microfilms evidencing enhanced cell adhesion, capture, and further the ability to proliferate in the 3D space. The inverse 3D polymeric microfilms demonstrated an 80% cell capture efficiency using cultured cancer cells. In a clinical utility, the CTC capturing efficiency was comparable with OncoDiscover® CTC enumeration technology. The inverse 3D polymeric microfilms present a novel 'lab-on-a-chip' platform to enable enumeration of CTCs for monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD), progress of metastasis, response to treatment, and finally early detection of relapse.