Implementation of an Integrated Dielectrophoretic and Magnetophoretic Microfluidic Chip for CTC Isolation

Abstract

Identification of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from a majority of various cell pools has been an appealing topic for diagnostic purposes. This study numerically demonstrates the isolation of CTCs from blood cells by the combination of dielectrophoresis and magnetophoresis in a microfluidic chip. Taking advantage of the label-free property, the separation of red blood cells, platelets, T cells, HT-29, and MDA-231 was conducted in the microchannel. By using the ferromagnet structure with double segments and a relatively shorter distance in between, a strong gradient of the magnetic field, i.e., sufficiently large MAP forces acting on the cells, can be generated, leading to a high separation resolution. In order to generate strong DEP forces, the non-uniform electric field gradient is induced by applying the electric voltage through the microchannel across a pair of asymmetric orifices, i.e., a small orifice and a large orifice on the opposite wall of the channel sides. The distribution of the gradient of the magnetic field near the edge of ferromagnet segments, the gradient of the non-uniform electric field in the vicinity of the asymmetric orifices, and the flow field were investigated. In this numerical simulation, the effects of the ferromagnet structure on the magnetic field, the flow rate, as well as the strength of the electric field on their combined magnetophoretic and dielectrophoretic behaviors and trajectories are systemically studied. The simulation results demonstrate the potential of both property- and size-based cell isolation in the microfluidic device by implementing magnetophoresis and dielectrophoresis.

DC-Dielectrophoretic Manipulation and Isolation of Microplastic Particle-Treated Microalgae Cells in Asymmetric-Orifice-Based Microfluidic Chip

“…To address this challenge, the microfluidic system becomes an opportunity for the manipulation of microscale and nanoscale targets [ 13 ]. Compared with various sorting methods, dielectrophoresis is one of the most reliable techniques to provide the accurate manipulation of microalgae and controllable dielectrophoretic effects on the targets due to the advantages of label-free sorting, low sample consumption, and tunability to analyze selectively and sensitively [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

Continuous Flow Separation of Red Blood Cells and Platelets in a Y-Microfluidic Channel Device with Saw-Tooth Profile Electrodes via Low Voltage Dielectrophoresis

“…In a recent work done by Yamashita et al, this group established a method of high purification of platelets using DEP to eliminate blood cells from platelet concentrates [ 21 ]. Zhao et al demonstrated the isolation of CTCs from blood cells by the combination of DEP and magnetophoresis in a microfluidic chip [ 22 ]. Li et al [ 23 ] utilized DEP to separate live and heat-treated Listeria innocua cells.…”

Tunable magnetophoretic method for distinguishing and separating wear debris particles in an Fe‐PDMS‐based microfluidic chip

“…MAP is the immigration of particles in an inhomogeneous magnetic field. When exposing to the gradient of nonuniform magnetic field, the ferromagnetic particles are subjected to unique streamlines by different degrees of deflection under the magnetophoretic forces, leading to the particles isolation [28,29]. A micron detection system integrated in the microfluidic chip was developed by electroplating the planar coils on process plates, and the magnetic beads in the sample were extracted from the rest particles by the induced magnetic field [30].…”