Multi-user equipment approved in grant 2020/12980-3: Atomic Force Microscope and accessories

Abstract

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, with early detection and appropriate therapy being the best alternatives to reduce the risk of mortality. Despite the recent advances in investigating biomarkers for early cancer detection, diagnosis strategies still lack improvements in the selectivity for the capture of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and the detection method's sensitivity. This proposal aims to establish a synergistic collaboration among three universities of the state of São Paulo (UNICAMP, USP, and UNIFESP), the Renato Archer Information Technology Center, and two international universities (University of Laval and MIT) to develop a platform for the diagnosis of different types of cancer diseases based on CTCs detection. The research team will explore microfabrication methods, recombinant protein biosynthesis, and surface functionalization via Layer-by-Layer to create tridimensional electrodes for detecting prostate, breast, and thyroid cancer cell lineages. These techniques will enable the production of functionalized, patterned surfaces bearing peptide sequences that interact with tumor cell integrins, enhancing the selective capture of CTCs from biological assays on impedance electrodes. Understanding the design rules for biological recognition of different CTCs lineages will demand an in-depth investigation of the factors affecting the cell adhesion process, such as the patterned surface geometry, the film deposition parameters, and the affinity between the surface macromolecules and the cell surface. Overall, this proposal envisions establishing a proof-of-concept platform for CTCs detection, streamlining the clinical diagnose of tumoral diseases. (AU)