High-Efficiency EpCAM/EGFR-PLGA Immunomagnetic Beads with Specific Recognition on Circulating Tumor Cells in Colorectal Cancer

To investigate the separation efficiency of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) PLGA magnetic beads in colorectal cancer circulating tumor cells (CTCs) separation and identification. The carboxylic polylactic acid-glycolic acid (PLGA-COOH) and chitosan hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HQCMC) were used to encapsulate Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticle, connect EpCAM antibody and EGFR antibody to prepare immunomagnetic beads (IMMS). The fresh blood of 35 cases of colorectal cancer patients was collected and detected. The CTCs captured by EpCAM immunomagnetic beads (EPM) and EGFR immunomagnetic beads (GPM) were counted by IMMS separation technology and compared with the patient's condition and the clinical pathological data. The results showed that the homemade EPM and GPM could effectively specific recognition and capture different colorectal cancer CTCs, which was matching with the clinical results. In addition, GPM captured CTCs were consistent with the detection results of EGFR gene mutation.