Issue 1, 2017

Trapping, manipulation, and crystallization of live cells using magnetofluidic tweezers

Abstract

Live mammalian cells are captured and manipulated in magnetofluidic traps created in a suspension of biocompatible, magnetic nanoparticles by a coaxial magnetic/non-magnetic “micropen”. Upon activation by an external electromagnet, the pen creates microscale gradients of magnetic field and nanoparticle concentration that translate into directional and confining forces acting on the cells. Both individual cells and cell collections can be trapped by this method, allowing, for instance, for the formation of regularly shaped cell assemblies. The method does not entail any local heating artifacts and does not require magnetic tagging of the cells.

Graphical abstract: Trapping, manipulation, and crystallization of live cells using magnetofluidic tweezers

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
10 Jun 2016
Accepted
03 Oct 2016
First published
03 Oct 2016

Nanoscale Horiz., 2017,2, 50-54

Trapping, manipulation, and crystallization of live cells using magnetofluidic tweezers

J. V. I. Timonen, C. Raimondo, D. Pilans, P. P. Pillai and B. A. Grzybowski, Nanoscale Horiz., 2017, 2, 50 DOI: 10.1039/C6NH00104A

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