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 separation of leukocytes from whole human blood. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.