Microfluidic high viability neural cell separation using viscoelastically tuned hydrodynamic spreading.

A high viability microfluidic cell separation technique of high throughput was demonstrated based on size difference continuous mode hydrodynamic spreading with viscoelastic tuning. Using water with fluorescent dye as sample fluid and in parallel introducing as elution a viscoelastic biocompatible polymer solution of alginic sodium, the spreading behavior was investigated at different polymer concentrations and flow rates. Particle separation was studied in the same detail for 9.9 microm and 1.9 microm latex beads. Using buffered aqueous solutions and further surface treatments to protect from cell adhesion, separation between neuron cells and glial cells from rat's spine cord was demonstrated and compared to the separation of latex particles of 20 and 4.6 microm sizes. High relative viability (above 90%) of neural cells was demonstrated compared the reference cells of the same batch.