Method for detecting and/or characterising tumour cells and associated apparatus

Droplet for detecting and/or characterizing tumor cells (90), comprising a plurality of particles capable of forming an aggregate (10) of particles (12) defining an elongated object along a main axis (X), and a tumor cell (90), and optionally at least one target element (37) of the secretome of the tumor cell (90) intended to be fixed on the aggregate (10).

Method for preparing droplets (6) for detecting and/or characterizing tumor cells, comprising:

• the dispersion, in a mass of fluid (86) intended to form droplets (6), of particles (12) capable of forming an aggregate (10) defining an object elongated along a main axis (X), and of a plurality of cells (90), wherein at least some cells (90) are tumor cells capable of producing a target element (37) of the secretome of a tumor cell, then
• the dispersion of the mass of fluid (86) in the form of droplets (32), so that each droplet comprises a plurality of particles (12), while at least some of the droplets (6) comprise, in addition, a cell (90), and
• optionally forming in each droplet (6) at least one aggregate (10) of particles (12) defining an object elongated along a main axis (X), wherein the aggregate (10) of particles (12) is formed in each droplet (6) after the dispersion.