Figure 4.

Efficient release of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from CTC-chip and their viability. (A) A combination of treatment with ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and a higher flow rate washing yielded a higher efficiency of CTC release from CTC-chip. (B) Comparison of cell viabilities among cultured cells (suspended in media), captured cells adherent to the chip surface, and released cells determined by propidium iodide-acridine orange (PI-AO) assay. Error bars represent range (n = 3), **P< 0.01. (C) Fluorescence imaging of released CTCs from clinical samples under fluorescence spectroscopy after direct incubation of them with a fluorescent d-glucose analog 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl) amino]-2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-NBDG).