Micro-array devices for capturing cells in blood and methods of their use

1. A method for counting cells in a blood sample comprising:

applying a blood sample onto a carbon nanotubes (CNT) device, wherein the blood sample comprises cells of pre-selected type and cells of non-pre-selected type;

allowing the cells in the blood sample to settle on the CNT device, and

detecting an electrical signal from the CNT device, wherein the electrical signal is indicative of a capture of the cells of pre-selected type or the cells of non-pre-selected type by the CNT device;

analyzing the detected electrical signal to identify whether the cells of pre-selected type or the cells of non-pre-selected type are captured by the CNT device from the blood sample by distinguishing the electrical signal due to specific interactions from an electrical signal due to non-specific interactions, wherein the specific interactions are between the cells of pre-selected type and the CNT device and the non-specific interactions are between the cells of non-pre-selected type and the CNT device; and

only upon the identification of the capture of the cells of pre-selected type, counting the captured cells of the pre-selected type in the blood sample.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the cells of pre-selected type are breast cancer cells.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the CNT device comprises:

a substrate;

a thin film of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) disposed on the substrate; the CNTS being functionalized with one or more antibodies capable of binding to the cell of pre-selected type to be captured; and

a plurality of conductive contacts disposed on the substrate and electrically coupled to the thin film, wherein the plurality of conductive contacts are configured to detect the capture of the cells of pre-selected type by the one or more antibodies.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the film is formed from a single layer of carbon nanotubes.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the one or more antibodies include with EpCAM and anti-Her2.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the film includes a passivation layer so only the functionalized carbon nanotubes are exposed to the blood sample.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the film has a density may be between 3 and 5 nanotubes per micrometer.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein the film is functionalized with 1-Pyrenebutanoic Acid Succinimidyl Ester (PASE) to conjugate one or more antibodies to the film.

9. A method for counting cells in a blood sample comprising:

applying a blood sample onto a carbon nanotubes (CNT) film functionalized with one or more capture agents, wherein the blood sample comprises cells of pre-selected type and cells of non-pre-selected type;

allowing cells in the blood sample to react with the one or more capture agents of the CNT film, and

receiving, from one or more electrical contacts in electrical connection with the CNT film, an electrical signal due to interaction between the one or more capture agents or the CNT film with the cell of preselected type or the cells of non-pre-selected type;

analyzing the electrical signal to identify whether the cells of pre-selected type in the blood sample are interacting with the one or more capture agents or the CNT film by distinguishing an electrical signal due to specific interactions from an electrical signal due to non-specific interactions, wherein the specific interactions are between the cells of pre-selected type and the capture agents and the non-specific interactions are between the cells of the non-pre-selected type and the capture agents or the CNT film; and

only upon the identification of the interaction by the cells of pre-selected type counting the captured cells of pre-selected type in the blood sample.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the cells of pre-selected type are cancer cells and the cells of non-pre-selected type are blood cells.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the one or more capture agents is selected from a group consisting of anti-epithelial-cell-adhesion-molecule (EpCAM), anti-human epithelial growth factor receptor 2 (anti-Her2), nonspecific immunoglobin (IgG) antibodies, PSMA, EGFR, her2-neu, her1, her3, G-protein coupled receptors and combinations thereof.

12. A method for counting cells in a blood sample comprising:

applying a blood sample onto an array comprising one or more carbon nanotubes (CNT) devices, wherein the blood sample comprises cells of pre-selected type and cells of non-pre-selected type, wherein each of the one or more CNT devices comprises;

a substrate;

a CNT film disposed on the substrate, the CNT film being functionalized with one or more capture agents capable of capturing the cell of pre-selected type; and

one or more conductive contacts disposed on the substrate and electrically coupled to the CNT film, wherein the plurality of conductive contacts are configured to detect a capture of the cells of pre-selected type by the one or more capture agents;

allowing cells in the blood sample to settle on the CNT film,

receiving, from one or more electrical contacts in electrical connection with the CNT film, an electrical signal due to interaction between the one or more capture agents or the CNT film with the cell of preselected type or the cells of non-pre-selected type;

analyzing the electrical signal to identify whether the cells of pre-selected type in the blood sample are interacting with the one or more capture agents or the CNT film by distinguishing an electrical signal due to specific interactions from an electrical signal due to non-specific interactions, wherein the specific interactions are between the cells of pre-selected type and the capture agents and the non-specific interactions are between the cells of the non-pre-selected type and the capture agents or the CNT film; and

only upon the identification of the interaction by the cells of pre-selected type counting the captured cells of pre-selected type in the blood sample.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the cells of pre-selected type are cancer cells and the cells of non-pre-selected type are blood cells.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the one or more capture agents is selected from a group consisting of anti-epithelial-cell-adhesion-molecule (EpCAM), anti-human epithelial growth factor receptor 2 (anti-Her2), nonspecific immunoglobin (IgG) antibodies, PSMA, EGFR, her2-neu, her1, her3, G-protein coupled receptors and combinations thereof.