Passive microfluidic devices for cell separation

Tianlong Zhang; Dino Di Carlo; Chwee Teck Lim; Tianyuan Zhou; Guizhong Tian; Tao Tang; Amy Q Shen; Weihua Li; Ming Li; Yang Yang; Keisuke Goda; Ruopeng Yan; Cheng Lei; Yoichiroh Hosokawa; Yaxiaer Yalikun

doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108317

Passive microfluidic devices for cell separation

Biotechnol Adv. 2024 Mar-Apr:71:108317. doi: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108317. Epub 2024 Jan 12.

Authors

Tianlong Zhang¹, Dino Di Carlo², Chwee Teck Lim³, Tianyuan Zhou¹, Guizhong Tian⁴, Tao Tang³, Amy Q Shen⁵, Weihua Li⁶, Ming Li⁷, Yang Yang⁸, Keisuke Goda⁹, Ruopeng Yan¹⁰, Cheng Lei¹⁰, Yoichiroh Hosokawa¹¹, Yaxiaer Yalikun¹²

Affiliations

¹ College of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, China.
² Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
³ Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117583, Singapore.
⁴ College of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, China. Electronic address: justtgz@163.com.
⁵ Micro/Bio/Nanofluidics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.
⁶ School of Mechanical, Materials, Mechatronic and Biomedical Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
⁷ School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
⁸ Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan 572000, China.
⁹ Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; The Institute of Technological Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
¹⁰ The Institute of Technological Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
¹¹ Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
¹² Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara 630-0192, Japan. Electronic address: yaxiaer@ms.naist.jp.

PMID: 38220118
DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108317

Abstract

The separation of specific cell populations is instrumental in gaining insights into cellular processes, elucidating disease mechanisms, and advancing applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, diagnostics, and cell therapies. Microfluidic methods for cell separation have propelled the field forward, benefitting from miniaturization, advanced fabrication technologies, a profound understanding of fluid dynamics governing particle separation mechanisms, and a surge in interdisciplinary investigations focused on diverse applications. Cell separation methodologies can be categorized according to their underlying separation mechanisms. Passive microfluidic separation systems rely on channel structures and fluidic rheology, obviating the necessity for external force fields to facilitate label-free cell separation. These passive approaches offer a compelling combination of cost-effectiveness and scalability when compared to active methods that depend on external fields to manipulate cells. This review delves into the extensive utilization of passive microfluidic techniques for cell separation, encompassing various strategies such as filtration, sedimentation, adhesion-based techniques, pinched flow fractionation (PFF), deterministic lateral displacement (DLD), inertial microfluidics, hydrophoresis, viscoelastic microfluidics, and hybrid microfluidics. Besides, the review provides an in-depth discussion concerning cell types, separation markers, and the commercialization of these technologies. Subsequently, it outlines the current challenges faced in the field and presents a forward-looking perspective on potential future developments. This work hopes to aid in facilitating the dissemination of knowledge in cell separation, guiding future research, and informing practical applications across diverse scientific disciplines.

Keywords: Cell separation; Hybrid; Intelligent; Label-free; Passive microfluidics.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Cell Separation
Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy*
Filtration*
Lab-On-A-Chip Devices
Microfluidics