Selective reduction of the interaction of magnetic nanoparticles with leukocytes and tumor cells by human plasma

Carboxymethyl-dextran coated magnetic nanoparticles can interact with viable human cells. The interaction of the nanoparticles is cell-type specific. The addition of human plasma led to a dramatic reduction of magnetically separable leukocytes in comparison to tumor cells. We conclude that low plasma concentrations might support an efficient enrichment of circulating epithelial cells from the peripheral blood of tumor patients.