Open Gradient Magnetic Red Blood Cell Sorter Evaluation on Model Cell Mixtures

Abstract

The emerging applications of biological cell separation to rare circulating tumor cell (CTC) detection and separation from blood rely on efficient methods of red blood cell (RBC) debulking. The two most widely used methods of centrifugation and RBC lysis have been associated with the concomitant significant losses of the cells of interest (such as progenitor cells or circulating tumor cells). Moreover, RBC centrifugation and lysis are not well adapted to the emerging diagnostic applications, relying on microfluidics and micro-scale total analytical systems. Therefore, magnetic RBC separation appears a logical alternative considering the high iron content of the RBC (normal mean 105 fg) as compared to the white blood cell iron content (normal mean 1.6 fg). The typical magnetic forces acting on a RBC are small, however, as compared to typical forces associated with centrifugation or the forces acting on synthetic magnetic nanoparticles used in current magnetic cell separations. This requires a significant effort in designing and fabricating a practical magnetic RBC separator. Applying advanced designs to the low cost, high power permanent magnets currently available, and building on the accumulated knowledge of the immunomagnetic cell separation methods and devices, an open gradient magnetic red blood cell (RBC) sorter was designed, fabricated and tested on label-free cell mixtures, with potential applications to RBC debulking from whole blood samples intended for diagnostic tests.

Fundamentals and application of magnetic particles in cell isolation and enrichment: a review

“…In addition to breast cancer cells, QMS has been used for isolation of cancer cells from patients with head and neck cancer (Yang et al, 2009, Balasubramanian et al, 2012) and to separate islet cells for diabetes research (Shenkman et al, 2009). The same research group has illustrated that red blood cell removal, without magnetic tags, is possible using QMS (Moore et al, 2013, Moore et al, 2014, Jin et al, 2012, Zborowski et al, 2003). Using such a negative selection approach, hematopoietic stem cells have been enriched from blood (Jing et al, 2007, Tong et al, 2007, Schneider et al, 2010, Jin et al, 2012).…”

“…Using this large electromagnet, approximately 70% of the RBCs were retained within the column. Since 1975, several methods have been developed to reduce the magnitude of the applied magnetic field and gradient, and increase the recovery and purity of the RBCs efficiency (Al-Karmi, 2010, Chen et al, 2013, Furlani and Furlani, 2007, Han and Frazier, 2004, Han and Frazier, 2005, Han and Frazier, 2006a, Han and Frazier, 2006b, Jung and Han, 2008, Moore et al, 2013, Pauling and Coryell, 1936, Zborowski et al, 2003, Furlani, 2007). In order to reduce the magnetic field and gradient requirements, many groups have reduced the distance between the magnetic source and the blood sample, typically by using microfluidic channels or by changing the geometries of the overall design.…”

Adverse Effects and Side Effects on Vitamin Therapy: A Review

“…Vitamin B 6 or pyridoxine improves the oxidative capacity of cells, thereby increases fatty acid oxidation in muscle and fat cell [70]. Deficiency of this vitamin may cause seizures in neonates [71].…”

Skeletal stem cell isolation: A review on the state-of-the-art microfluidic label-free sorting techniques

“…concerns debulking of blood by depletion of RBCs down to 5% of their initial value simply relying on their intrinsic magnetic susceptibility (Moore et al, 2013). Microfluidic magnetophoretic systems have been used for positive selection of labelled-cells for many years, and these devices are commonly referred to as micro-MACS (μMACS).…”