Sharif Digital Repository

The goal of this research is to elucidate the mechanism of Cell recognition in molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) using already utilized techniques. Our approach employs a more flexible non-covalent imprinting method which starts from a readily available polymer and utilizes an aqueous environment for both MIP synthesis and testing. Cell MIPs against MG-63 cell were synthesized. The synthesis procedure was optimized to obtain better binding characteristics to the targeted cell. Adsorption of target cell onto imprinted Alginate Spheres was facilitated by these macromolecular fingerprints as revealed by various microscopical examinations The imprinted Spheres showed high selectivity toward... 

The aim of this project is the surface modification of super para magnetic iron oxide (SPIONs), leading to oriented covalent bonding of antibody(AB) to these nanoparticles (NPs) and improve the efficiency of cell separation at MACS columns. For this purpose, SPIONs synthesized by co-precipitation method, and the stability of colloidal NPs then was provided by coating with Dextran . We used TGA to measure weight percentage of dextran. Some properties like particle size, hydrodynamic diameter, presence of coating and superparamagnetic properties were characterized by XRD (16 nm), FTIR, DLS (73 nm), TEM (20nm) and VSM (≈76/78 emu/g) method, respectively. Then we tried to immobilize AB on NPs... 

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cancer cells which shed from the primary tumor, enter circulation and spread cancer all over the body. CTCs give valuable information about cancer and can help diagnosis and prognosis. Hence separating and isolating CTCs from blood is a necessity for cancer therapeutics. CTCs are separated from blood cells by their different physical or biochemical properties. Many groups have attempted different methods for separation of CTCs. Inertial microfluidics is one of the newest approaches in CTC separation technologies which separates CTCs based on their size. Current inertial microfluidic systems containing straight, spiral, serpentine and contraction expansion... 

The process of separating cells from a laboratory sample, is a crucial step in biotechnology and medical science. Cells separation is important for various reasons, including the identification and treatment of diseases, as an example, separation of Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) from patient blood sample. CTCs are cells that shed from a tumor and diffuse into blood vessels. These cells are the starters of metastasis, the process in which cancer spreads in body, and are main reason of deaths caused by cancer. Extremely low percentages of target cells in the blood, clarify the importance of highly accurate and sensitive separation. Currently, conventional separation methods are of macro-order... 

Today, microfluidic experiments have found wide applications in medical sciences, engineering, and chemistry. Because of their small size, microfluidic devices help us to be able to use very little amount of sample for the experiments and also easily control and observe the under-experiment fluid. One of the most important applications of these devices is the separation of cancer cells in blood for counting their number and DNA genetic studies. In the current project we have tried to do the separation of cancer cells from other cells by designing an inertia microchannel. For this purpose, in the first step a geometry for the channel is designed with analyzing the induced forces on the cells.... 

Nowadays, intracellular studies have been widely developed in biological applications. Intracellular analysis requires direct experiments on cells such as cell separation, purification, lysis and DNA extraction. The process of cell lysis and the resulting DNA purification is a crucial step in diagnostic processes. Since, the basis of many genetic studies is the information existed in double-stranded DNA structures.In this project, a microfluidic system is presented which performs integrated chemical cell lysis and DNA extraction. The cell used in this study is L-929. In order to increase cell lysis, the serpentine micromixer in combination with internal and external barriers at the beginning... 

In this project a centrifugal, microfluidic platform to the end of separation and studying circulating tumor cells is designed, modelled and analyzed. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are specific types of cancer cells which leave the original tumor and enter the blood stream. For the separation of CTCs, a novel anti-body separation technic has been used which targets the specific MCF7 CTCs using their corresponding Ep-CAM antibody. First the Ep-CAM antibody is coated on magnetic nanoparticles through a chemical bonding process. Afterwards the CTCs are exposed to their antibodies, through which they will bind together and form CTCs with magnetic characteristics. Finally through exerting an... 

Separating cells from a mixed sample is a required task in biotechnology and modern medicine, for example to isolate CTC’s that are of interest for doing therapy and diagnosing or doing research. A minute percentage of target cells must be separated from a large amount of unwanted cells. These target cells like CTC’s could be as rare as 1 target cell per millions of unwanted background cells. Hence Microfluidic cell sorting schemes based upon fluorescent labelling, electrophoresis, dielectrophoresis and magnetophoresis have been devised. Microfluidic magnetically-activated cell sorting (MACS) does not need any optical instrument or current source and electrode. By using an electromagnet or... 

According to studies, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world and millions of people die from this disease every year. Early diagnosis is one of the most important factors in controlling and treating the disease. The ability of circulating tumor cells to diagnose and monitor the disease has led many researchers to focus on studying and researching these cells in recent years. However, due to the fact that the concentration of this type of cells in the blood is very low, their isolation is associated with challenges. Various methods isolate CTCs based on physical, biological and other differences in characteristics. In this study, we investigate performance of a microfluidic... 

Microfluidics is an emerging technology that has attracted lots of attention in recent years due to its remarkable capabilities. This technology that operates fluids in micron dimensions, has led to the emergence of lab-on-a-chip platforms that have the ability to perform one or more laboratory operations on a small scale. One of the most important applications of lab-on-a-chip devices is cell sorting which is done in various methods. In this study, we intend to provide a simple and practical solution for cell sorting by designing a comprehensive and optimized system. In this regard, we design a new generation of microfluidic devices, known as digital microfluidics, which has the ability to... 

Today, microfluidics, representing the precise and controlled displacement of small amounts of fluid, is one of the most efficient tools available in various research fields, including medicine. Digital microfluidics is one of the newest microfluidic methods, which is based on the theory of electrowetting on dielectric. According to this theory, by applying a voltage difference to a droplet of fluid on a hydrophobic surface, the droplet can be moved on that surface. Therefore, by fabricating a plate containing a number of electrodes completely isolated from each other and controlling them, small droplets of fluid can be moved on a hydrophobic surface. In this thesis, the electrodes of this... 

Today, the determination and therapy of numerous illnesses, including malignant growth, relies upon the information and assessment of platelets, so blood testing and cell examination is fundamental to survey the movement of disease. The lab on a chip innovation is utilized as an extremely productive device in cell studies. The lab on a chip is used as a foundation and a substrate for making a legitimate stream for cell processes in medication. This innovation is a gadget or framework with millimeters or centimeters aspects like a chip, and it performs research facility handling on a micron-scale. In spite of the fact that it has a few impediments, it has so many values; for example, it...