Liquid biopsy is a promising approach for cancer diagnosis and monitoring, enabling the study of circulating tumor cells as well as various biomarkers, such as circulating tumor DNA and exosomes, from a blood sample. However, their analysis remains challenging, particularly due to the complexity and heterogeneity of blood. In this context, this work explores the development of a 3D-printed microfluidic platform designed to control fluid flows and facilitate the manipulation of cells and particles.
The device is fabricated using a print-pause-print (PPP) strategy, which enables the direct integration of a glass slide for imaging, together with an insertable electro-active module. This design aims to combine hydrodynamic control, optical observation, and electrical actuation within a single device. The work first focuses on controlling the co-flow between blood and a buffer of interest, before exploring the influence of an electric field on the fluids and transported particles. These different functionalities are investigated and brought together to assess the potential of this architecture for the manipulation of complex biological samples.
This thesis therefore proposes a new approach to 3D-printed microfluidics, combining flow control and electrical actuation, with the perspective of developing versatile platforms dedicated to liquid biopsy applications.