Problem Statement

Problem Statement: The problem this project will address is the lack of obtainable knowledge on how circulating tumor cells attach to endothelial cells and proliferate into a new tumor. By creating a closed loop channel in a microfluidic device, the behavior of circulating cells will be able to be observed with the use of a microscope.

Additionally, when a circulating tumor cell attaches to a healthy endothelial cell a chemical signal is released and quickly dissipates within the body. This is a problem because the initial chemical signal released before tumor proliferation cannot be determined. By observing the attachment of tumor cells onto healthy cells in a closed loop, it will be possible to examine the chemical signal, as it will remain present in the loop.