Overview
- The device levitates cells to distinct equilibrium heights based on density and magnetic susceptibility, allowing non-contact sorting without labels or harsh processing.
- Electromagnetic coils added to a pair of closely spaced magnets let operators adjust magnetic forces instantly as cells flow through a millimeter-scale capillary.
- In experiments, live-cell fractions rose from about 50% to roughly 93%, and from about 10% to roughly 70%, demonstrating substantial enrichment under lab conditions.
- Tests covered breast and lung cancer cells, fibroblasts and white blood cells, with dead cells levitating lower due to increased density from paramagnetic uptake.
- Cancer cell clusters responded faster to field changes than single cells, suggesting levitation speed could aid in detecting clusters while the platform remains at a research stage.