Challenges in blood fractionation for cancer liquid biopsy: how can microfluidics assist?

Liquid biopsy provides a minimally invasive approach to characterise the molecular and phenotypic characteristics of a patient's individual tumour by detecting evidence of cancerous change in readily available body fluids, usually the blood. When applied at multiple points during the disease journey, it can be used to monitor a patient's response to treatment and to personalise clinical management based on changes in disease burden and molecular findings. Traditional liquid biopsy approaches such as quantitative PCR, have tended to look at only a few biomarkers, and are aimed at early detection of disease or disease relapse using predefined markers.

Syringable Microcapsules for Sustained, Localized, and Controllable siRNA Delivery.

The clinical use of small interfering RNA (siRNA) and antisense oligonucleotides often requires invasive routes of administration, including intrathecal or intraocular injection. Additionally, these treatments often necessitate repeated injections. While nanoparticle formulation and chemical modifications have extended siRNA therapeutic durability, challenges persist, such as the side effects of bolus injections with high toxicity and maximum exposure in the acute phase.

Interfacial Engineering of Biocompatible Nanocapsules for Near-Infrared-Triggered Drug Release and Photothermal Therapy.

Chemotherapy is an effective option for cancer treatment. However, its clinical application is often limited by the severe side effects of chemical drugs. To overcome these limitations, a novel drug-loaded phase-change nanocapsule system is developed.

Stiff Hydrogel Encapsulation Retains Mesenchymal Stem Cell Stemness for Regenerative Medicine.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) stands as a prominent choice in regenerative medicine, yet their therapeutic potential remains controversial due to challenges in maintaining lineage and viability. As directly injected MSCs are quickly cleared by the host immune system, entrapping viable cells in a 3D semi-permeable hydrogel matrix extends cell retention, showing great promise in enhancing therapeutic effect. However, the effects of hydrogel encapsulation on MSC subpopulations are not fully understood.

Jammed Pickering Emulsion Gels.

Emulsion gels with specific rheological properties have widespread applications in foods, cosmetics, and biomedicines. However, the constructions of water-in-oil emulsion gels are still challenging, due to the limited interactions available in the continuous oil phase. Here, a versatile strategy is developed to prepare a new type of emulsion gels, called Jammed Pickering emulsion gels (JPEGs).