Label-free continuous lateral magneto-dielectrophoretic microseparators for highly efficient enrichment of circulating nucleated cells from peripheral blood

We have developed a continuous lateral magneto-dielectrophoretic (MAP–DEP) microseparator for the highly efficient enrichment of circulating nucleated cells from peripheral blood, based on native magnetic and dielectric properties of blood cells. Lateral magnetophoretic (MAP) force is achieved using a high-gradient magnetic field, caused by a ferromagnetic wire array inlaid on the bottom glass substrate. Lateral dielectrophoretic (DEP) force is achieved using a planar interdigitated electrode array, patterned on the top glass substrate. Red blood cells in peripheral blood are primarily driven by the lateral MAP force, while white blood cells are primarily forced by the lateral DEP force, the direction of which is opposite to that of the lateral MAP force. These lateral MAP and DEP forces are produced evenly on the whole area of the microchannel, thereby achieving highly efficient enrichment. The experimental results showed that the lateral MAP–DEP microseparator can continuously enrich circulating nucleated cells by 20,000-fold from peripheral blood simply by using an external magnetic flux of 0.3 T and a 2-MHz sinusoidal voltage of 4 Vp-p. Additionally, by using the intrinsic magnetic and dielectric properties of blood cells, we eliminated the need for laborious sample preparation procedures before and after enrichment, and also reduced the cost.