Abstract: This disclosure relates to adsorbent compositions and methods for selective capture, purification, and release of marker cells for cancer, more particularly, circulating rare cells exemplified by circulating tumour cells followed by their isolation as single cells. These adsorbent compositions include functionalized substrates linked to the ligands which bind non-covalently to a marker cell for cancer, through at least one linkage cleaved at controlled rate in the presence of specific stimuli, and also linked to ligands which bind non-covalently to leukocytes through non-cleavable linkages. The capture of marker cell for cancer and release may be monitored using microscopy.

Abstract: A biofunctional multicomponent nanosystem for specific targeting, rapid isolation and simultaneous high resolution imaging of cancer cells is disclosed.