Continuous microfluidic immunomagnetic cell separation

We present a continuous-flow microfluidic device that enables cell by cell separation of cells selectively tagged with magnetic nanoparticles. The cells flow over an array of microfabricated magnetic stripes, which create a series of high magnetic field gradients that trap the magnetically labeled cells and alter their flow direction. The process was observed in real-time using a low power microscope. The device has been demonstrated by the continuous flow separation of leukocytes from whole human blood. The dependence of the process on the flow rates and direction of flow with respect to the magnetic stripes will be described.