Systems and methods for identifying and isolating invasive subpopulations of cancer cells in real-time
Inventors
Wellstein, Anton • Sharif, Ghada M. • Paranjape, Makarand • Der, Leon
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12517111-B2
Publication Date
2026-01-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems and methods for characterizing cancer cells are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods involve coating a first chamber with ECM material and adding a first plurality of cells to the first chamber, adding media to a second chamber, and adding a second plurality of cells and media to a third chamber. The first, second, and third chambers are then clipped together to form a chamber array. The chamber array is mounted to an electric cell impedance sensing reader and impedance readouts of cell invasion are collected from the electric array at time intervals. Cells detected to invade into the second chamber are extracted and characterized.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an apparatus for isolating invasive cells using a chamber array and an electrical cell impedance sensing reader for collecting impedance readouts in real time. The apparatus includes a first chamber housing a mixture of cells, a second chamber, and a third chamber housing tissue culture media comprising cells that produce one or more chemoattractants. A cell permeable membrane is disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber, with an extracellular matrix (ECM) material coated on a surface of the membrane facing the interior of the first chamber.
The apparatus further includes an electrode array disposed between the cell permeable membrane and the second chamber. A membrane is disposed between the second chamber and the third chamber, where the membrane is permeable to proteins and small molecule drugs. The electrical cell impedance sensing reader is coupled with the electrode array for collecting impedance readouts in real time, and invasive cells from the mixture of cells are extractable from the second chamber for characterization using the collected impedance readouts.
The invention enables characterization of the extracted invasive cells using impedance readouts collected in real time. Invasive cells are described as being extractable from the second chamber for characterization based on the collected impedance readouts, including characterization of invasive cancer cells. Additional characterization is described for RNA sequencing or single-cell mass spectrometry of the extracted invasive cells.
Claims Coverage
The relevant independent claim is directed to an apparatus that uses a three-chamber array with an ECM-coated cell permeable membrane, an electrode array, and protein/small-molecule-permeable membrane, together with a real-time electrical cell impedance sensing reader to enable extraction of invasive cells for characterization. Dependent claims further narrow the invasive cells to cancer cells and define method steps for collecting impedance readouts, extracting the invasive cells, and characterizing them, with additional refinement to RNA sequencing or single-cell mass spectrometry.
Chamber array with ECM-coated cell-permeable membrane
A chamber array comprising a first chamber housing a mixture of cells, a second chamber, and a cell permeable membrane disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the cell permeable membrane has an extracellular matrix (ECM) material coated on a surface of the cell permeable membrane facing an interior of the first chamber.
Electrode array coupled to a real-time electrical cell impedance sensing reader
An electrode array disposed between the cell permeable membrane and the second chamber, and an electrical cell impedance sensing reader coupled with the electrode array for collecting impedance readouts therefrom in real-time.
Chemoattractant-producing third chamber and protein/small-molecule-permeable membrane
A third chamber housing a tissue culture media comprising cells that produce one or more chemoattractants, and a membrane disposed between the second chamber and the third chamber, the membrane permeable to proteins and small molecule drugs.
Extraction of invasive cells for impedance-readout-based characterization
Invasive cells from the mixture of cells are extractable from the second chamber for characterization using the collected impedance readouts.
Invasive cells defined as cancer cells
The invasive cells are cancer cells.
Method linking real-time impedance readouts to extraction and characterization
Using the apparatus of the apparatus claim to collect real-time electrical impedance readouts, extract invasive cells from a second chamber, and characterize the extracted invasive cells using the collected impedance readouts.
RNA sequencing or single-cell mass spectrometry of extracted invasive cells
Analyzing the extracted invasive cells using RNA sequencing or single cell mass spectrometry.
Across the independent claim and its dependent refinements, the inventive concept is centered on a chamber array with an ECM-coated cell-permeable membrane and an electrode array, combined with a real-time electrical cell impedance sensing reader. Impedance readouts are used to extract invasive cells from the second chamber for characterization, with further specification that the invasive cells can be cancer cells and that characterization can include RNA sequencing or single-cell mass spectrometry.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
Interested in licensing this patent?