To provide a method for separating cells from a single sample, for example, separating fetal red blood cells from maternal blood.
A sample including cells is introduced into one or more microfluidic channels. A device includes at least two processing steps. As the first step, a mixture of cells is introduced into a microfluidic channel that selectively allows the passage of a desired type of cell; next, the population of cells enriched in the desired type is then introduced into a second microfluidic channel that allows the passage of the desired cell to produce a population of cells further enriched in the desired type. The selection of cells is based on a property of the cells in the mixture, for example, size, shape, deformability, surface characteristics (e.g. cell surface receptors or antigens and membrane permeability), or intracellular properties (e.g. expression of a particular enzyme).
TRUSKEY GEORGE
KAPUR RAVI
Koichi Niimi
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