Detection and isolation of viable cancer cells mediated by spytag and spycatcher using conditionally replicative adenovirus and magnetic microbeads

Abstract Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are critical biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy monitoring, but their rarity and reliance on surface markers limit detection and isolation. While conditionally replicative adenoviruses (crADs) enable tumor-selective targeting, their use ha...

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Main Authors: Sadegh Goli, Maryam Kadkhodazadeh, Mahshid Kharaziha, Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard, Kayhan Azadmanesh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95671-x
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author Sadegh Goli
Maryam Kadkhodazadeh
Mahshid Kharaziha
Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard
Kayhan Azadmanesh
author_facet Sadegh Goli
Maryam Kadkhodazadeh
Mahshid Kharaziha
Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard
Kayhan Azadmanesh
author_sort Sadegh Goli
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are critical biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy monitoring, but their rarity and reliance on surface markers limit detection and isolation. While conditionally replicative adenoviruses (crADs) enable tumor-selective targeting, their use has been limited to fluorescence-based detection without robust isolation of viable cells. To overcome this, we developed a crAD-based platform integrating SpyTag/SpyCatcher technology with SpyCatcher-decorated magnetic microbeads for marker-independent CTC detection and isolation. The engineered adenovirus (CR-Ad5-ST-GFP) selectively replicates in telomerase-positive tumor cells, expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) and SpyTag under independent promoters. By leveraging the SpyTag/SpyCatcher interaction, our platform isolates CTCs without relying on surface markers, addressing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and phenotype variations. In proof-of-concept experiments, A-549 and Ca Ski cells spiked into peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) at 1:10,000 were detected and isolated with over 80% efficiency. The isolated cells remained viable and were successfully re-cultured, demonstrating their potential for downstream applications such as molecular profiling and drug sensitivity testing. This method advances crAD-based approaches by combining tumor-selective viral targeting with marker-independent, viable CTC isolation. Its compatibility with microfluidic systems makes it a promising tool for tumor monitoring and personalized cancer treatment.
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spelling doaj-art-6eafa30ef64d46eaace72471e4132d012025-08-20T02:08:09ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-95671-xDetection and isolation of viable cancer cells mediated by spytag and spycatcher using conditionally replicative adenovirus and magnetic microbeadsSadegh Goli0Maryam Kadkhodazadeh1Mahshid Kharaziha2Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard3Kayhan Azadmanesh4Department of Materials Engineering, Isfahan University of TechnologyATMP Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECRDepartment of Materials Engineering, Isfahan University of TechnologyMetabolomics and Genomics Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Institute, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical SciencesMolecular Virology Department, Pasteur Institute of IranAbstract Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are critical biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy monitoring, but their rarity and reliance on surface markers limit detection and isolation. While conditionally replicative adenoviruses (crADs) enable tumor-selective targeting, their use has been limited to fluorescence-based detection without robust isolation of viable cells. To overcome this, we developed a crAD-based platform integrating SpyTag/SpyCatcher technology with SpyCatcher-decorated magnetic microbeads for marker-independent CTC detection and isolation. The engineered adenovirus (CR-Ad5-ST-GFP) selectively replicates in telomerase-positive tumor cells, expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) and SpyTag under independent promoters. By leveraging the SpyTag/SpyCatcher interaction, our platform isolates CTCs without relying on surface markers, addressing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and phenotype variations. In proof-of-concept experiments, A-549 and Ca Ski cells spiked into peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) at 1:10,000 were detected and isolated with over 80% efficiency. The isolated cells remained viable and were successfully re-cultured, demonstrating their potential for downstream applications such as molecular profiling and drug sensitivity testing. This method advances crAD-based approaches by combining tumor-selective viral targeting with marker-independent, viable CTC isolation. Its compatibility with microfluidic systems makes it a promising tool for tumor monitoring and personalized cancer treatment.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95671-xCirculating tumor cells (CTCs)Conditionally replicative adenovirusSpyTag-SpyCatcher systemDetection and isolationCancer cellsMagnetic microbeads
spellingShingle Sadegh Goli
Maryam Kadkhodazadeh
Mahshid Kharaziha
Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard
Kayhan Azadmanesh
Detection and isolation of viable cancer cells mediated by spytag and spycatcher using conditionally replicative adenovirus and magnetic microbeads
Scientific Reports
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs)
Conditionally replicative adenovirus
SpyTag-SpyCatcher system
Detection and isolation
Cancer cells
Magnetic microbeads
title Detection and isolation of viable cancer cells mediated by spytag and spycatcher using conditionally replicative adenovirus and magnetic microbeads
title_full Detection and isolation of viable cancer cells mediated by spytag and spycatcher using conditionally replicative adenovirus and magnetic microbeads
title_fullStr Detection and isolation of viable cancer cells mediated by spytag and spycatcher using conditionally replicative adenovirus and magnetic microbeads
title_full_unstemmed Detection and isolation of viable cancer cells mediated by spytag and spycatcher using conditionally replicative adenovirus and magnetic microbeads
title_short Detection and isolation of viable cancer cells mediated by spytag and spycatcher using conditionally replicative adenovirus and magnetic microbeads
title_sort detection and isolation of viable cancer cells mediated by spytag and spycatcher using conditionally replicative adenovirus and magnetic microbeads
topic Circulating tumor cells (CTCs)
Conditionally replicative adenovirus
SpyTag-SpyCatcher system
Detection and isolation
Cancer cells
Magnetic microbeads
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95671-x
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AT mahshidkharaziha detectionandisolationofviablecancercellsmediatedbyspytagandspycatcherusingconditionallyreplicativeadenovirusandmagneticmicrobeads
AT shaghayeghhaghjooyjavanmard detectionandisolationofviablecancercellsmediatedbyspytagandspycatcherusingconditionallyreplicativeadenovirusandmagneticmicrobeads
AT kayhanazadmanesh detectionandisolationofviablecancercellsmediatedbyspytagandspycatcherusingconditionallyreplicativeadenovirusandmagneticmicrobeads