Cell separation by antibody-coupled magnetic microspheres and their application in conjunction with monoclonal HLA-antibodies.

The modification and efficiency of a technique for cell separation is described. This technique combines the specificity of serologic reactions with the strength and physical selectivity of a magnetic field. A monoclonal HLA-BW 6 antibody was coupled to 100 nm diameter Fe3O4 containing albumin microspheres via surface-incorporated St. aureus Protein-A. The mixture of HLA-BW 6 and -BW 4 human peripheral blood lymphocytes was incubated with these immunomicropheres and applied to a glass column located in a magnetic field. Only HLA-BW 4 lymphocytes passed through the column and were collected. The recovered cells were 97% viable.