Development and Optimization of a Microfluidic Device for Magnetic Field Induced Cell Separation

L. Helmich[1], A. Hütten[1]
[1]Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
Published in 2013

Besides conventional laboratory analysis methods, so called micro-total-analysis devices (µTAS) have gained great interest during the last decades. In this work we demonstrate a mechanism for the separation and selection of medical samples that can be applied within these µTAS devices. Due to magnetic beads, which are bound to the cell surface, these biological samples become sensitive to magnetic field gradients. Thus, the motion of the samples can be tailored magnetically. In this work, micro-fabricated magnetic Rocking Ratchet structures are used. By using the AC/DC Module and “Particle Tracing for Fluid Flow” interface a set of parameters for a successful two-dimensional separation of cells depending on certain biological properties could be derived.