Cambridge, UK – April 4, 2023 – Vortex Biosciences, a company at the forefront of liquid biopsy technology for cancer diagnostics, has successfully enhanced the design and manufacturing of its disposable cartridge for circulating tumour cell (CTC) isolation. This crucial development aims to improve the system’s reliability and enable high-volume production, ultimately benefiting personalised medicine and patient care.
The challenge of isolating rare CTCs from billions of other blood cells with the necessary purity, yield, and integrity is significant. Vortex had already developed an effective liquid biopsy system, and this project focused on refining its disposable cartridge.
A multi-disciplinary team collaborated closely with Vortex, identifying potential failure points and proposing design and manufacturing improvements. This included prototyping and testing a range of enhancements, such as designing the cartridge for laser welding. The project also involved close engagement with the supply chain, with initial commercial batches to be produced in-house under ISO 13485 certified clinical manufacturing procedures.
This rigorous approach has led to robust improvements in the CTC cartridge’s production, reliability, cost-effectiveness, and stability. Vortex Biosciences now possesses a cartridge design capable of meeting the demanding production volumes required by the market, thereby empowering clinicians with better tools to assess cancer status and guide appropriate treatment decisions. This advancement is a key step in making high-quality CTC analysis more accessible and impactful in the fight against cancer.
