Abstract: A new aptamer approach for the recognition of specific small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell surface molecular markers relies on cell-based systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (cell-SELEX) to evolve aptamers for whole live cells that express a variety of surface markers representing molecular differences among cancer cells. When applied to different lung cancer cells including those from patient samples, these aptamers bind to SCLC cells with high affinity and specificity in different assay formats. When conjugated with magnetic and fluorescent nanoparticles, the aptamer nano-conjugates could effectively extract SCLC cells from mixed cell media for isolation, enrichment, and sensitive detection.

Abstract: A substrate handler is provided. In one embodiment, the substrate handler includes a first and second carriage coupled to a rail. A first robot having at least two grippers is attached to the first carrier. A second robot having at least one gripper is coupled to the second carriage. The first carriage is independently positionable along the rail relative to the second carriage. As each carriage has a separate actuator, the movements of the first and second robot are decoupled, thereby allowing increased throughput. The substrate handler is particularly suitable for using in a planarization system having an integrated substrate cleaner.