
BIOCAPTIVA Launches New Study to See if BioCaptis cfDNA Enrichment Device Can Enhance Accuracy of Lung Fluid Biopsies
BIOCAPTIVA Ltd, a liquid biopsy technology company developing the BioCaptis cell-free DNA (cfDNA) capture device has announced a new study to determine whether the BioCaptis device can efficiently isolate cfDNA from pleural fluid samples, potentially improving the diagnosis of pleural diseases, including cancer. The study is conducted in collaboration with the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) and NHS Highland.
Pleural diseases encompass various conditions involving the thickening of the lung lining or the accumulation of fluid between the chest wall and the lung itself. These conditions span cancer, infections, and autoimmune diseases, making their diagnosis a complex challenge. Current diagnostic methods for pleural diseases often involve fluid sampling, which can be inconclusive due to low tumor cell content. Consequently, patients may require invasive biopsies for definitive diagnosis, leading to hospital admissions and patient morbidity. This situation highlights the need for non-invasive diagnostic alternatives.
BioCaptis is an innovative medical device for liquid biopsy testing that can significantly enhance cfDNA detection. Unlike traditional methods that rely on small venous blood draws, BioCaptis utilizes apheresis to harvest vast quantities of cell-free DNA (cfDNA), equivalent to over 100 individual blood draws from a single patient. This approach improves diagnostic assay performance and offers flexibility in choosing amplification-free workflows to preserve sample diversity. BioCaptis’s device uses technology known as msX™, which facilitates the collection of high-input DNA by using coated surfaces that naturally bind DNA from plasma, whole blood, and urine while preventing protein biofouling, enabling large sample volumes to be processed without the addition of potentially toxic reagents or buffers. msX™ selectively binds to only free DNA in solution, excluding cells, proteins, DNA within vesicles or exosomes, or other inaccessible DNA. This results in highly pure cfDNA with a robust signal-to-noise ratio for thorough analysis, including potential whole genome sequencing.
Jeremy Wheeler, CEO of BIOCAPTIVA, believes that the BioCaptis device’s ability to enhance cfDNA availability for liquid biopsy testing could significantly expedite pleural disease diagnosis, reduce risks and costs, and ultimately improving patient outcomes.