Micropatterned surfaces enable selective cancer cell capture and real-time monitoring. Publications 17 January 2018 Manuscript: Selective Cell Isolation by Transferrin Functionalized Silane– Carbon Soot Mediated Superhydrophobic Micropatterns Transferrin-functionalized wettability micropatterns enable selective cancer cell capture and real-time monitoring for diagnostics and recurrence detection. Surfaces that facilitate selective cell adhesion using specific targeting moieties have significant implications in diagnostics, tissue engineering, and high-throughput screening. However, designing robust and spatially confined micropatterns for selective cell isolation on portable platforms remains highly challenging. Here, wettable silane (Si) micropatterns with covalently attached transferrin (Tf) for targeting Tf-overexpressing cancer cells are reported. These micropatterns are separated by carbon soot–based superhydrophobic regions, which transform the targeting sites into surface tension–confined “microwells.” These microwells facilitate the capture of human colorectal carcinoma cells (HCT116) and human cervical adenocarcinoma cells (HeLa) by confining their attachment to the wettable regions, thereby making the isolation and spotting of targeted cells more efficient. In addition, owing to its transparent nature, the Tf-conjugated wettability-based patterned chip enables real-time optical monitoring of cell adhesion, cell growth, and cell behavior. The specific cell isolation enabled by such surfaces has potential applications in developing cancer recurrence monitoring tests. Advanced Material Interfaces View Manuscript Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

Actorius Meeting with Oncology KOLs in USA Events 20 February 2026 Meeting with KOLs in USA Actorius Meeting with Oncology KOLs in USA Meeting with Oncology KOLs in USA Know more Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

OncoDiscover: affordable, rapid CTC platform for HNC patients in developing nations. Publications 4 June 2019 ASCO 2019: Correlation of CTCs with disease progression in Indian oral cancer patients "OncoDiscover" is a fast, highly sensitive, and affordable (~$120) CTC nanosystem validated in 100 HNC patients to meet global medical needs. Background Liquid biopsy technologies are often unaffordable and unavailable in developing countries, despite these regions having the highest cancer burden and mortality rates. Current circulating tumor cell (CTC) technologies face significant clinical concerns, including non-specificity, low efficiency, high blood volume requirements, long turnaround times, and exorbitant costs (~$900–$1,400). We report an extremely low-cost, innovative nanosystem for the rapid enumeration of CTCs with higher specificity and efficiency. Methods We designed a nanosystem mediated by the conjugation of anti-EpCAM through a multi-reactive glutathione spacer, a carbon allotrope, and an amine-terminated dendrimer. The platform was evaluated for enhanced aqueous dispersibility and increased interaction with CTCs for rapid isolation and enumeration in 100 head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. These patients had various primary tumor sub-sites, including the oral cavity, larynx, hypopharynx, oropharynx, nasopharynx, salivary gland, and thyroid. The captured cells were immunostained, and the optimal fluorescence acquisition intensity was validated by accounting for CTCs with CK18 protein expression. Our method achieved the complete elimination of false-positive normal cell (NC) counts. The analysis was performed using only 1.5 ml of collected blood samples. Results The CTC distribution in the cohort study ranged from 1 to 85 cells per 1.5 ml of blood. In more than 80% of patients' CTCs, the quantitative estimation of anti-CK18 protein overexpression indicated an intensity approximately 10-fold higher than that of normal cells. Compared to treatment-naive, recurrent, and disease-free patients, the spread of CTC numbers across the clinical range appeared to be tight (close to the mean value). The CTC enumeration sensitivity linearity was ~99.2%, and the complete enumeration process time was under 3 hours per 1.5 ml of blood. Consequently, an efficient, rapid, and affordable CTC platform was designed and clinically validated. Conclusions The "OncoDiscover" liquid biopsy technology for CTC enumeration is poised to revolutionize the field due to its high sensitivity and affordability (~$120). It addresses a major unmet medical need in the developing world. Know more Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

Magnetic nanogels enable optimized capture of circulating tumor cells from blood. Publications 11 February 2018 Manuscript: Optimizing Circulating Tumor Cells’ Capture Efficiency of Magnetic Nanogels by Transferrin Decoration Magnetic nanogels with optimized PEG–transferrin linkers achieve over 80% efficiency in selectively capturing circulating tumor cells from blood. Magnetic nanogels (MNGs) are designed with the necessary features to function as highly efficient trapping materials for the challenging task of selectively capturing circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from the bloodstream. A key factor in this process is the ability to discriminate CTCs from hematological cells, which can be optimized by finely tuning the polymers used to link the targeting moiety to the MNGs. Here, we describe the relationship between the capturing efficiency of CTCs with overexpressed transferrin receptors and the different strategies used in polymer linkers to decorate these MNGs with transferrin (Tf). Heterobifunctional polyethylene glycol (PEG) linkers with varying molecular weights were coupled to transferrin in different ratios. Optimal results, with over 80% CTC capture efficiency, were obtained when three PEG linkers with a length of eight ethylene glycol (EG) units were used. These findings highlight the crucial role of linker design in developing efficient CTC-sorting systems. View Manuscript Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

PD-L1 on CTCs enables monitoring, recurrence tracking, and minimal residual disease. Publications 3 June 2025 Circulating tumor cells and clusters exhibiting expression of PD-L1 in colorectal patients. High prevalence of PD-L1–positive circulating tumor cells in colorectal cancer highlights their role in minimal residual disease and recurrence monitoring. Background The role of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has been well established in predicting survival in metastatic settings, particularly in breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers. However, their clinical utility has been limited due to high costs, variability in sensitivity and accuracy, and the use of cutoff-based interpretations. The biological significance of CTCs—from extravasation and invasion to their contribution to tumor microenvironment dynamics and tumor burden—suggests greater clinical relevance than is currently applied in practice. Their role in monitoring minimal cellular residual disease (MCRD), especially in early-stage cancers post-surgery, remains underexplored, including decisions regarding therapy duration in diseases such as colorectal cancer and longitudinal monitoring for recurrence. Dynamic PD-L1 expression on CTCs may indicate incomplete tumor resection or treatment response and may also reflect cellular dormancy in circulation, potentially enabling immune evasion. In this study, we report the expression of PD-L1 on CTCs and CTC clusters in colorectal cancer patients. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 666 colorectal cancer patients (63.06% male and 36.94% female), spanning early- to late-stage disease, for the presence of CTCs with and without PD-L1 expression, as well as CTC clusters. CTCs were detected using the CDSCO-approved OncoDiscover platform in 1.5 mL of peripheral blood. Cells were classified as CTCs if they were EpCAM⁺, CK18⁺, DAPI⁺, and CD45⁻, and were identified using an automated Zeiss microscope system. Results At baseline analysis, 74.25% (n = 591) of patients had ≥1 CTC per 1.5 mL of blood. CTC counts ranged from 1 to 20 cells. Among patients with detectable CTCs, 74.62% (n = 441) exhibited PD-L1 expression. The highest proportion of CTCs (~25.86%, n = 352) was observed in the 61–70 years age group. CTC clusters were detected in 13.00% (n = 156) of patients, and notably, more clusters were observed during follow-up compared with baseline. The mean CTC count (including clusters) was 1.71, while the mean PD-L1–positive CTC count was 1.02. Conclusions PD-L1 expression on CTCs may contribute to their ability to persist in circulation through immune evasion, potentially enabling dormancy via surface protein overexpression that helps them avoid elimination by immune T cells. The CTC–PD-L1 assay shows strong potential for patient surveillance both before and after treatment in assessing minimal cellular residual disease. Further clinical studies in this direction are strongly warranted. View Publication Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

Making cancer detection more accessible and affordable to people Press Release 24 August 2019 Startup Mantra: Making cancer detection more accessible and affordable to people Launching ‘OncoDiscover Liquid Biopsy Test’, a minimally invasive test which can be performed multiple times requiring 1.5ml blood volume... Actorius Innovations and Research Pvt. Ltd. Read full release Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

A cost-effective, high-efficiency nanosystem for rapid circulating tumor cell enumeration. Patents 13 February 2023 Devices and methods for recovering disease-causing toxic constituents in the blood A cost-effective, high-efficiency nanosystem for rapid circulating tumor cell enumeration. The present disclosure relates to non-hemolytic blood compatible devices and methods for capture, enumeration, removal of disease-causing agents from the blood and for the treatment of the cancer patients. The said devices incorporating non-hemolytic compositions are useful for removing disease-causing agents 'ex vivo' from cancer patient's blood to prevent/delay the proliferation of cancer. The devices retain disease-causing agents in particular Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs), allowing the passage of other blood constituents retaining the viability of hematopoietic cells. Related patent documents WO/2023/229674 CA3255372 IN202527040253 View Patent Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

OncoDiscover enables early cancer spread detection and faster diagnosis. | BS Article Press Release 24 August 2019 Pune scientists discover tech, first in India, to detect early spread of cancer. The new "OncoDiscover" technology discovered by a team led by Dr Jayant Khandare not only detects the early spread of cancer but doctors say it can also speed up the cancer detection process… A team of Pune scientists have discovered a technology that can detect within mere hours, the spread of cancer and claim that the new finding reduces considerably the time taken for detecting the disease. The new "OncoDiscover" technology discovered by a team led by Dr Jayant Khandare not only detects the early spread of cancer but doctors say it can also speed up the cancer detection process. Presently, in India, the final diagnosis report to detect the spread of cancer takes about 12 days whereas, with OncoDiscover technology, doctors can detect it in a mere 3.5 hours. Dr Khandare told ANI, "We felt the need for this technology because global cancer is spreading. 90 per cent of the people get to know they have cancer when it is at the second stage but through this technology, we can try saving that 90 per cent. This technology is needed to detect cancer at an early stage." View full article Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

CK18 variance in CTCs across cancer types necessitates validated enumeration. Publications 9 October 2021 ESMO 2021: Validation of Cytokeratin (CK18) Protein Expression in Epithelial Cell lines and in Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) Study shows significant CK18 expression variance across different cancer cell lines and CTCs, highlighting the need for regulated enumeration tools. Background CTCs predict an unfavourable prognosis and outcomes in cancers. Lowering of cytokeratin 18 expression is a hallmark of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). Homogeneity and validation of CK18 expression in cancer cell lines and CTCs originating from distinct solid tumors is indeterminate and may contribute to non-specific counts. We hypothesize that the expression of CK18 in varied cell lines may differ quantitatively, and additionally may exhibit similar trends in CTCs enumerated from different tumor types. Methods CK18 variance in epithelial cell lines (e.g., A549+, MCF-7+, and MEF-) (n=192,269 cells) and CTCs (n=63) of different phenotypes was analyzed and compared. The fluorescence intensity was measured post-immunostaining, using motorized-automated, computer-assisted scanning, and through a customized ImageJ macro tool. The effect of anti-CK18 concentrations (0.06-6 μg/ml) and binding constants (Kb) was measured across all cell lines. CTCs were enumerated from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients' blood samples (CTRI/2018/03/012905) and from clinical samples (e.g., breast, lung, colorectal (CRC), ovarian) using the clinically relevant OncoDiscover platform. Results CK18 mapping revealed diverse fluorescence intensities distribution in three cell lines, as well as in HNSCC, lung, breast, ovarian, and colorectal cancer CTCs (Table). In addition, the protein binding assay showed 8.65 x 10^3 Kb (M^-1) for MCF7 and 7.9 x 10^3 for A549 cells indicating concentration-dependent binding for CK18 expressing proteins on cells and may be varied in CTCs of different cancer types. Compared to the CK- cell line (MEF), the normalized CK18 intensity was higher by 290% and 310%, respectively, in MCF7 (breast) and A549 (lung) cells, demonstrating the variation in CK18 expression. On the other hand, CTCs showed significant diversity in CK18 expression with buccal mucosa revealing the lowest (67%), while CTCs of CRC origin demonstrated the highest expression (320%) (Table). CK18 intensity was represented across the cell lines and on CTCs enumerated from different cancer types. Conclusions Non-regulated CTC enumeration platforms pre-requisite critical validations to eliminate the non-specificity of CTC counts, which are highly imperative to clinical decisions in cancer management. Clinical Trial Identification CTRI/2018/03/012905. Know more Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

CTCs in recurrent and metastatic head & neck squamous cell carcinoma. Publications 20 July 2023 Manuscript: Role of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) This study highlights the utility of CTCs as a disease progression monitoring tool in recurrent HNSCC patients. Our findings suggest the potential clinical utility of CTCs and the need for further exploration in upfront settings of the disease as well (NCT: CTRL/2020/02/023378). Background: Liquid biopsy is emerging as a non-invasive tool that provides a personalized snapshot of primary and metastatic tumors. It aids in detecting early metastasis, recurrence, or resistance to the disease. We aimed to assess the role of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) as a predictive biomarker in recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer, specifically head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methodology: Thirty-five patients receiving palliative chemotherapy underwent blood sampling (2 mL in an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) vial) at baseline and at 3-month intervals. The CTCs were isolated and evaluated using anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecule antibody-based enrichment with the OncoDiscover platform. Results: CTCs were isolated from 80% of patients (n = 28), showing sensitivity of cell detection at baseline and at 3-month intervals. The median CTC count was 1 per 1.5 mL of blood, and the concordance with clinicoradiological outcomes was 51.4%. The median CTC count declined at 3 months in responders (1 (range: 0–4) to 0 (range: 0–1)), while non-responders showed an increase in levels (0 (range: 0–2) to 1 (range: 0–3)). Although CTCs positively correlated with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), the association did not show a significant difference between CTC-positive and CTC-negative patients at 3 months (PFS: 6 months versus 4 months; hazard ratio: 0.68; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.29–1.58, p = 0.323; OS: 10 months versus 8 months; hazard ratio: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.18–1.57; p = 0.216). Conclusion: This study highlights the utility of CTCs as a disease progression monitoring tool in recurrent HNSCC patients. Our findings suggest the potential clinical utility of CTCs and the need for further exploration in upfront settings of the disease as well (NCT: CTRL/2020/02/023378). View Manuscript Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

CTCs and PD-L1 in sarcoma indicate minimal residual disease and need for monitoring. Publications 9 May 2025 Accounts of circulating tumor cells and CTC clusters with PD-L1 expression in sarcoma patients Study shows circulating tumor cells with PD-L1 expression and clusters in sarcoma, indicating minimal residual disease and need for long-term monitoring. Abstract Background: Sarcomas are characterized by significant heterogeneity, diverse histological subtypes, and variable clinical behavior. Dynamic epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) processes in solid tumors contribute to disease aggressiveness. Characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in sarcomas remains challenging due to the lack of well-defined, cell-specific markers and limited molecular characterization. Compared with adenocarcinomas, studies on sarcoma-derived CTCs are relatively limited. Therefore, isolation and characterization of CTCs, including assessment of protein expression and cellular transitions using affinity ligands such as anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) antibodies, may improve clinical outcomes in sarcoma patients. The role of CTCs as minimal cellular residual disease (MCRD) is particularly relevant post-treatment, including after curative-intent surgery. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of CTCs and CTC clusters as indicators of minimal cellular residual disease (MCRD), along with PD-L1 expression, in sarcoma patients. Methods: In this retrospective study, peripheral blood samples from 97 sarcoma patients (55.95% male and 44.05% female) were analyzed for the presence of CTCs, PD-L1 expression, and CTC clusters. CTCs were isolated using the OncoDiscover platform approved by CDSCO from 1.5 mL of blood. The platform utilizes a multifunctional magneto-nanosystem mediated by anti-EpCAM antibodies. CTCs were identified as EpCAM⁺, CK18⁺, DAPI⁺, and CD45⁻ cells. PD-L1 expression on CTCs was quantified based on linear fluorescence intensity gradients using image acquisition on an automated Zeiss microscope. Results: Among the 97 patients, 86.59% had baseline CTC assessments, while 13.40% had follow-up samples. At baseline analysis, 68.04% (n = 66) of patients demonstrated ≥1 CTC per 1.5 mL of blood. The CTC count ranged from 1 to 6 cells, with a mean value of 1.17. Additionally, 61.44% (n = 51) of patients with detectable CTCs exhibited PD-L1 expression, with a mean value of 0.92. The highest proportion of CTCs (31.11%, n = 28) and CTC clusters (6.14%, n = 7) was observed in the 31–40-year age group. Conclusions: The presence of CTCs with CTC clusters and PD-L1 expression suggests minimal cellular residual disease (MCRD) and may indicate aggressive disease behavior in sarcoma patients. Following treatment, the detection of such CTCs may be associated with metastasis progression. Therefore, longitudinal monitoring of these patients is recommended to support improved clinical outcomes. View Publication Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

Explore career opportunities at Actorius Innovations. Join us to innovate with intent and make a difference in patient lives. Careers Join us to be a part of our Journey Innovation Driven Impact-obsessed Who we are About Actorius We innovate and create bio materials that have critical applications in the field of life sciences, drug delivery and medical diagnostics. We work with a vision to advance and improve human health. Trusted by: Mission, Vision & Purpose Innovating with Intent Our mission, vision, and purpose reflect our commitment to meaningful progress and measurable outcomes. Mission To develop innovative methodologies to develop diagnostic tests that provide early indicators of oncogenesis and enable informed treatment strategies. Vision To collectively advance and improve human health by developing biomedical innovations into practical applications that have wider reach, accessibility and affordability. Purpose To positively impact everyone, by developing solutions that have reduced time to decision making and providing precise information for a chosen course of action. Our Culture For us, at Actorius, commitment to team work comes first. We have a flat hierarchy. We believe that it takes all sorts to make a formidable team. That’s why we are, at times, open to welcoming passionate and driven people to be a part of our growing team. Team Building We are open to welcoming passionate and driven people to be a part of our growing team. We hold off-sites and affiliation events to bring together members of the team. We take pride in investing in individualised talent development programme and mentoring. Our People Driven by People, Defined by Purpose. Whether you’re an experienced professional or a recent graduate, working with Actorius could be an enriching experience and rewarding next step in your career. Our Values What We Stand For Our values define our commitment to rigorous science, responsibility, and meaningful impact. Work on challenges with cutting-edge science and innovation. Work towards making it accessible and affordable to the masses. Ensure critical clinical validations for every outcome. Bio-materials with high specificity, efficiency and sensitivity. Scientific disciplines with interdisciplinary intelligence at the core. Take every little step to ensure cancer patient’s lives are saved. 50+ and counting We’re looking for dynamic thinkers and doers to help us make a difference to patient lives. Apply Now Jobs Current Job Openings Current openings at Actorius Innovations and Research Didn't find any relevant openings? You think you are driven by a vision to positively changes the lives of cancer patients? or you have a passion for research, fill in the following form. if we have a position that we think you're suitable for, we'll reach out to you. Apply Proactively