Aptamer-functionalized barcode particles for the capture and detection of multiple types of circulating tumor cells.

Aptamer-functionalized barcode particles are employed to capture and detect various types of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). The particles are spherical colloidal crystal clusters, and the reflection properties that arise from their structures are how their codes are evaluated. Aptamer functionalization (with TD05, Sgc8, and Sgd5) make the particles interact with specific CTC types; dendrimers are used to amplify the effect of the aptamers, allowing for increased sensitivity, reliability, and specificity in CTC capture, detection, and subsequent release.