Superhydrophobic lab-on-chip measures secretome protonation state and provides a personalized risk assessment of sporadic tumour.

Secretome of primary cultures is an accessible source of biological markers compared to more complex and less decipherable mixtures such as serum or plasma. The protonation state (PS) of secretome reflects the metabolism of cells and can be used for cancer early detection. Here, we demonstrate a superhydrophobic organic electrochemical device that measures PS in a drop of secretome derived from liquid biopsies. Using data from the sensor and principal component analysis (PCA), we developed algorithms able to efficiently discriminate tumour patients from non-tumour patients. We then validated the results using mass spectrometry and biochemical analysis of samples. For the 36 patients across three independent cohorts, the method identified tumour patients with high sensitivity and identification as high as 100% (no false positives) with declared subjects at-risk, for sporadic cancer onset, by intermediate values of PS. This assay could impact on cancer risk management, individual's diagnosis and/or help clarify risk in healthy populations.

In vitro expansion of tumour cells derived from blood and tumour tissue is useful to redefine personalized treatment in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

The clinical development of locally and advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) suffers from a lack of biomarkers as a guide in the selection of optimal prognostic prediction. Circulating Tumour Cells (CTCs) are correlated to prognosis and show efficacy in cancer monitoring in patients. However, their enumeration alone might be inadequate; it might also be critical to understand the viability, the apoptotic state and the kinetics of these cells. Here, we report what we believe to be a new and selective approach to visually detect tumour specific CTCs. Firstly, using labelled human lung cancer cells, we detected a specific density interval in which NSCL-CTCs were concentrated. Secondly, to better characterize CTCs in respect to their heterogeneous composition and tumour reference, blood and tumour biopsy were performed on specimens taken from the same patient. The approach consisted in comparing phenotype profile of CTCs, and their progenitor Tumour Stem Cells, (TSCs). Moreover, NSCL-CTCs were cultivated in short-time human cultures to provide response to drug sensitivity. Our bimodal approach allowed to reveal two items. Firstly, that one part of a tumour, proximal to the bronchial structure, displays a predominance of CD133+. Secondly, specific NSCL-CTCs Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM)+CD29+ can be used as a negative prognostic factor as well the high expression of CTCs EpCAM+. These data were confirmed by drug-sensitivity tests, in vitro, and by the survival curves, in vivo.

Cross-linked ionomeric materials from poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) and poly(ethylene glycol) for biomedical applications: a preliminary investigation.

Two ionomeric materials, cross-linked through the formation of polyoxyethylene bridges, were synthesized by the reaction of poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) (PSMA) with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), carried out in the absence of external catalysts. The reaction was carried out at room temperature, both in bulk with excess glycol, and in acetone solution with a 20:1 ratio of anhydride rings to hydroxyl groups. The materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The SEM showed a quite uniform porous structure for the material synthesized in bulk, and two distinct phases for that synthesized in acetone solution, a sponge-like structure and a denser one. The FTIR spectra showed that the first material underwent the cross-linking reaction to a greater extent than the second one. Both TGA and DSC confirmed the formation of cross-linked structures. Such tri-dimensional networks, owing to the presence of the carboxyl groups, could easily entrap either cationic drugs, in view of a possible controlled release, or poisonous metal cations, when they must be removed from blood. The second use can be made easier by the hemocompatibility, ascertained in preceding studies on other materials, synthesized by the reaction between maleic anhydride copolymers and hydroxyl-containing macromolecules. Another possible use is the production of ion exchanging gels, as fillers for both ion exchange and liquid chromatography columns, which could be easily regenerated.