Cup-shaped superparamagnetic hemispheres for size-selective cell filtration

Sci Rep. 2014 Sep 15:4:6362. doi: 10.1038/srep06362.

Abstract

We propose a new method of size separation of cells exploiting precisely size-controlled hemispherical superparamagnetic microparticles. A three-layered structure of a 2-nm nickel layer inserted between 15-nm silicon dioxide layers was formed on polystyrene cast spheres by vapor deposition. The polystyrene was then removed by burning and the hemispherical superparamagnetic microparticles, "magcups", were obtained. The standard target cells (CCRF-CEM, 12 ± 2 μm) were mixed with a set of different sizes of the fabricated magcups, and we confirmed that the cells were captured in the magcups having cavities larger than 15 μm in diameter, and then gathered by magnetic force. The collected cells were grown in a culture medium without any damage. The results suggest that this method is quick, simple and non-invasive size separation of target cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Size
  • Filtration / methods*
  • Humans
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nickel / chemistry*
  • Polystyrenes / chemistry*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / pathology*
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Magnetite Nanoparticles
  • Polystyrenes
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Nickel