# US 10,119,960 B2 · Method of screening cancer cells using wrinkle patterns on a thin membrane

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,119,960 B2
- Document ID: US10119960B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/316,710
- Filed: 2015-06-09
- Published: 2017-07-06
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2014-06-09
- Assignees: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University; The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University; The U.S. Government represented by the Department of Veteran Affairs
- Applicants: Arizona Board of Regents On Behalf of Arizona State University
- Inventors: Junseok Chae; Jennie Appel; Joseph Liao
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119960B2

## CPC

- G01N 33/5091: {for testing the pathological state of an organism}
- G01N 21/8422: {Investigating thin films, e.g. matrix isolation method}
- G01N 33/487: of liquid biological material
- G01N 33/575: for cancer
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

Systems and methods for performing cancer screening assays are disclosed. The disclosed systems and methods use a thin film comprising cross-linked polysiloxane. At least a portion of a biological sample to be assayed is contacted with the thin film, along with a cell culture media. After a subsequent incubation period, the thin film is visualized to detect a wrinkle pattern (or lack thereof). The presence of one or more wrinkles and/or a higher degree of wrinkling in the thin film indicates the presence of cancer cells in the biological sample. The disclosed systems and methods can be incorporated into improved assays and kits for cancer screening.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for detecting the presence of one or more cancer cells in a biological sample, the method comprising:
contacting a thin film comprising a cross-linked polysiloxane with at least a portion of a biological sample and a culture media; and
detecting the presence or absence of one or more wrinkles in the thin film, whereby the presence of one or more wrinkles indicates that the biological sample contains one or more cancer cells.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the cross-linked polysiloxane is a cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method claim 2, wherein the cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane is a cross-linked liquid silicone.

### Claim 4

The method of 1, wherein the polysiloxane is cross-linked by heating the polysiloxane.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the thin film is between 5 nm and 1,000 nm thick.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the thin film is between 5 nm and 500 nm thick.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the thin film is between 5 nm and 100 nm thick.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the thin film is between 10 nm and 50 nm thick.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the presence or absence of one or more wrinkles in the thin film is performed by visually inspecting the thin film.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the step of visually inspecting the thin film is performed using conventional light microscopy.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the cancer cells are bladder cancer cells.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the biological sample comprises a fluid selected from the group consisting of urine, blood, saliva, lymph, and cerebrospinal fluid.

### Claim 13

A method of screening for cancer in a subject, the method comprising:
contacting a thin film comprising a cross-linked polysiloxane with a culture media and at least a portion of a biological sample obtained from the subject; and
detecting the wrinkle pattern of the thin film, whereby the nature of the wrinkle pattern indicates the potential presence of cancer in the subject.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the polysiloxane is cross-linked by heating the polysiloxane.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the wrinkle pattern is detected by visualizing the thin film.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the thin film is visualized using conventional light microscopy.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the wrinkle pattern is quantitatively measured.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein a higher quantity of wrinkles in the wrinkle pattern indicates a higher likelihood of the subject having cancer.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein a longer length of wrinkles in the wrinkle pattern indicates a higher likelihood of the subject having cancer.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the cross-linked polysiloxane is a cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method claim 20, wherein the cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane is a cross-linked liquid silicone.

### Claim 22 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the thin film is between 5 nm and 1,000 nm thick.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein the thin film is between 5 nm and 500 nm thick.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein the thin film is between 5 nm and 100 nm thick.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24, wherein the thin film is between 10 nm and 50 nm thick.

### Claim 26 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the type of cancer that is screened for is bladder cancer.

### Claim 27 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the biological sample comprises a fluid selected from the group consisting of urine, blood, saliva, lymph, and cerebrospinal fluid.

### Claim 28

A kit for performing a cancer screening assay, the kit comprising:
a thin film having a thickness of from 5 nm to 500 nm comprising a cross-linked polysiloxane; and
a media for culturing cells.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein the cross-linked polysiloxane is a cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The method claim 29, wherein the cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane is a cross-linked liquid silicone.

### Claim 31 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein the thin film is between 5 nm and 100 nm thick.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein the thin film is between 10 nm and 50 nm thick.