DISPOSABLE MICROFLUIDIC CHIP WITH INTEGRATED LIGHT SHEET ILLUMINATION ENABLES DIAGNOSTICS BASED ON MEMBRANE VESICLES

Cell-derived membrane vesicles that are released in body fluids are emerging as potential non-invasive biomarkers for diseases like cancer. Techniques capable of measuring the size and concentration of such membrane vesicles directly in body fluids are urgently needed. Here we report on a microfluidic chip with integrated light sheet illumination, and demonstrate accurate fluorescence Single Particle Tracking measurements of the size and concentration of membrane vesicles in cell culture medium and in interstitial fluid collected from primary human breast tumours.