Microfabricated magnetic sifter for high-throughput and high-gradient magnetic separation

J Magn Magn Mater. 2009 May;321(10):1436-1439. doi: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2009.02.062.

Abstract

A microfabricated magnetic sifter has been designed and fabricated for applications in biological sample preparation. The device enables high-throughput, high-gradient magnetic separation of magnetic nanoparticles by utilizing columnar fluid flow through a dense array (~5000/mm(2)) of micropatterned slots in a magnetically soft membrane. The potential of the sifter for separation of magnetic nanoparticles conjugated with capture antibodies is demonstrated through quantitative separation experiments with CD138-labelled MACS nanoparticles. Capture efficiencies ranging from 28-37% and elution efficiencies greater than 73% were measured for a single pass through the sifter.