Lee R. Moore

Red Blood Cell Magnetophoresis

The existence of unpaired electrons in the four heme groups of deoxy and methemoglobin (metHb) gives these species paramagnetic properties as contrasted to the diamagnetic character of oxyhemoglobin. Based on the measured magnetic moments of hemoglobin and its compounds, and on the relatively high hemoglobin concentration of human erythrocytes, we hypothesized that differential migration of these cells was possible if exposed to a high magnetic field. With the development of a new technology, cell tracking velocimetry, we were able to measure the migration velocity of deoxygenated and metHb-containing erythrocytes, exposed to a mean magnetic field of 1.40 T and a mean gradient of 0.131 T/mm, in a process we call cell magnetophoresis. Our results show a similar magnetophoretic mobility of 3.86 x 10(-6) mm(3) s/kg for erythrocytes with 100% deoxygenated hemoglobin and 3.66 x 10(-6) mm(3) s/kg for erythrocytes containing 100% metHb. Oxygenated erythrocytes had a magnetophoretic mobility of from -0.2 x 10(-6) mm(3) s/kg to +0.30 x 10(-6) mm(3) s/kg, indicating a significant diamagnetic component relative to the suspension medium, in agreement with previous studies on the hemoglobin magnetic susceptibility. Magnetophoresis may open up an approach to characterize and separate cells for biochemical analysis based on intrinsic and extrinsic magnetic properties of biological macromolecules.

Continuous cell separation using novel magnetic quadrupole flow sorter

Abstract A laboratory prototype of a flow cell sorter based on magnetic quadrupole field was built and evaluated. The magnetic force acting on magnetically labeled cells in such a field has a `centrifugal’ character which provides a basis for the design of a continuous separation process. The sorter was tested on a model cell system of human peripheral lymphocytes labeled with magnetic colloid.

Flow Through, Immunomagnetic Cell Separation

A brief, process‐oriented overview of immunologically based cell separation technology is presented. In addition, the design and preliminary experimental data of two unique flow‐through immunomagnetic cell separation devices are presented. The first design is based on a dipole magnetic field, while the second design is basis on a quadrupole magnetic field. The dipole design can “fractionate” an inlet, magnetically labeled, cell stream into different outlet streams on the basis of the degree to which the cell is immunomagnetically labeled. The quadrupole separator splits an inlet, immunomagnetically labeled, cell stream into two outlet streams in which the purity, recovery, and potentially the degree to which the cells are immunomagnetically labeled is controlled by the flow rates in the inlet and outlet flows. A 99% purity and 86% recovery have been achieved with this system. Some distinct advantages of these two systems are the potential of high purity, recovery, and throughput at a cost which is potentially significantly lower than current, comparable technologies.

Continuous, flow‐through immunomagnetic cell sorting in a quadrupole field

A flow-through quadrupole magnetic cell separator has been designed, built, and evaluated by using a cell model system of human peripheral T lymphocytes (CD4+, CD8+, and CD45+ cells). The immunomagnetic labeling was accomplished by using a sandwich of mouse anti-human monoclonal antibody conjugated to fluorescein isothiocyanate and rat anti-mouse polyclonal antibody conjugated to a colloidal magnetic nanoparticle. The feed and sorted fractions were analyzed by FACScan flow cytometry. The magnetically labeled cells were separated from nonlabeled ones in a flow-through cylindrical column within a quadrupole field, which exerted a radial, outward force on the magnetic cells. The flow rate of the cell samples was 0.1-0.75 ml/min, and the flow rate of sheath fluid was 1.5-33.3 times that of the sample flow rate. The maximum shear stress exerted on the cell was less than 1 dyne/cm2, which was well below the level that would threaten cell integrity and membrane disruption. The maximum magnetic field was 0.765 T at the channel wall, and the gradient was 0.174 T/mm. The highest purity of selected cells was 99.6% (CD8 cells, initial purity of 26%), and the highest recovery of selected cells was 79% (CD4 cells, initial purity of 20%). The maximum throughput of the quadrupole magnetic cell separator was 7,040 cells/s (CD45 cells, initial purity of 5%). Theoretical calculations showed that the throughput can be increased to 10(6) cells/s by a scale-up of the current prototype.

An instrument to determine the magnetophoretic mobility of labeled, biological cells and paramagnetic particles

Abstract An instrument is described and discussed which can determine the magnetophoretic mobility of immunomagnetically labeled cells and paramagnetic particles. Through the use of a well-characterized magnetic energy gradient and a computer algorithm, cell tracking velocimetry, it is possible to obtain the mean and distribution of the magnetophoretic mobility for samples with greater than 10 3 individuals.

Lymphocyte fractionation using immunomagnetic colloid and a dipole magnet flow cell sorter

The relationship between cell function and surface marker expression is a subject of active investigation in biology and medicine. These investigations require separating cells of a homogeneous subset into multiple fractions of varying marker expression. We have developed a novel cell sorter, the dipole magnet flow sorter (DMFS), which separates selected T lymphocyte subpopulations, targeted by immunomagnetic colloid, into multiple fractions according to cell surface marker expression, as determined by flow cytometry. A narrow stream of cells is introduced into a sheath of carrier fluid in a rectangular channel while subjected to a perpendicular magnetic force. The special design of the pole pieces ensures a constant magnetic force acting on the magnetically labeled cells in the separation area. Cells are spread across the flow in relation to their magnetophoretic mobility. Separation is achieved by control of the positions of the effluent stream boundaries, which separate fluid volumes with cells of different magnetophoretic mobility. CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes labeled with primary antibody-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) conjugate and anti-FITC-magnetic colloid are the chosen cell systems. Flow cytometry analysis shows that, for CD4 cells, a three-fold increase in total marker number per cell is observed when comparing the highest to the lowest fluorescence fractions. Similarly, a four-fold increase in total marker number is observed for CD8 cells. We also observed the separation of two dissimilar cell types that differed in expression of the CD4 marker, monocytes and T helper lymphocytes. We believe that this type of separation is applicable to any cells in suspension for which a suitable antibody exists and, due to the comparatively gentle nature of the process, is particularly suitable for the sorting of fragile cells.

Determination of the magnetic susceptibility of labeled particles by video imaging

Magnetic cell sorting is gaining in popularity as a method to separate and recover viable cells which differ in functionality, but not in physical characteristics. We are developing a continuous cell sorter to overcome the restrictions of current batch methods, which are limited in their throughput and separation efficiency and which can also subject cells to potentially detrimental physical stresses. Of primary importance in the design and operation of a continuous magnetic cell sorter is the degree of cell magnetization, which is characterized by a property called the magnetic susceptibility. Current techniques for measuring susceptibility give only population average values. We describe here a video-based technique for quickly measuring the susceptibility of large numbers of individual particles. Paramagnetic particles are pumped across the interpolar gap of a permanent magnet and the magnetic field-induced deflections are recorded by video microscopy. Susceptibility is computed from force balances and the measured velocities for individual particles. Our results show that this method can provide susceptibility values which agree well with values obtained from other established methods, while additionally providing population statistics not available by the other methods. The versatility of this method is also demonstrated.

Hemoglobin degradation in malaria-infected erythrocytes determined from live cell magnetophoresis

During intra‐erythrocytic development, malaria trophozoites digest hemoglobin, which leads to parasite growth and asexual replication while accumulating toxic heme. To avoid death, the parasite synthesizes insoluble hemozoin crystals in the digestive vacuole through polymerization of β‐hematin dimers. In the process, the heme is converted to a high‐spin ferriheme whose magnetic properties were studied as early as 1936 by Pauling et al. Here, by magnetophoretic cell motion analysis, we provide evidence for a graduated increase of live cell magnetic susceptibility with developing blood‐stage parasites, compatible with the increase in hemozoin content and the mechanism used by P. falciparum to avoid heme toxicity. The measured magnetophoretic mobility of the erythrocyte infected with a late‐stage schizont form was m = 2.94 × 10−6 mm3 s/kg, corresponding to the net volume magnetic susceptibility (relative to water) of Δχ = 1.80 × 10−6, significantly higher than that of the oxygenated erythrocyte (−0.18×10−6) but lower than that of the fully deoxygenated erythrocyte (3.33×10−6). The corresponding fraction of hemoglobin converted to hemozoin, calculated based on the known magnetic susceptibilities of hemoglobin heme and hemozoin ferriheme, was 0.50, in agreement with the published biochemical and crystallography data. Magnetophoretic analysis of live erythrocytes could become significant for antimalarial drug susceptibility and resistance determination.

The use of magnetite-doped polymeric microspheres in calibrating cell tracking velocimetry

Continuous magnetic separation, in which there is no accumulation of mass in the system, is an inherently dynamic process, requiring advanced knowledge of the separable species for optimal instrument operation. By determining cell magnetization in a well-defined field, we may predict the cell trajectory behavior in the well-characterized field environments of our continuous separators. Magnetization is determined by tracking the migration of particles with a technique known as cell tracking velocimetry (CTV). The validation of CTV requires calibration against an external standard. Furthermore, such a standard, devoid of the variations and instabilities of biological systems, is needed to reference the method against day-to-day shifts or trends. To this end, a method of synthesizing monodisperse, magnetite-doped polymeric microspheres has been developed. Five sets of microspheres differing in their content of magnetite, and each of approximately 2.7 microm diameter, are investigated. An average gradient of 0.18 T/mm induces magnetic microsphere velocities ranging from 0.45 to 420 microns/s in the CTV device. The velocities enable calculation of the microsphere magnetization. Magnetometer measurements permit the determination of magnetization at a flux density comparable to that of the CTV magnets analysis region, 1.57 T. A comparison of the results of the CTV and magnetometer measurements shows good agreement.

Magnetophoretic Cell Sorting Is a Function of Antibody Binding Capacity

Antibody binding capacity (ABC) is a term representing a cellapos;s ability to bind antibodies, correlating with the number of specific cellular antigens expressed on that cell. ABC allows magnetically conjugated antibodies to bind to the targeted cells, imparting a magnetophoretic mobility on each targeted cell. This enables sorting based on differences in the cell magnetophoretic mobility and, potentially, a magnetic separation based on the differences in the cell ABC values. A cellapos;s ABC value is a particularly important factor in continuous magnetic cell separation. This work investigates the relationship between ABC and magnetic cell separation efficiency by injection of a suspension of immunomagnetically labeled quantum simply cellular calibration microbeads of known ABC values into fluid flowing through a quadrupole magnetic sorter. The elution profiles of the outlet streams were evaluated using UV detectors. Optimal separation flow rate was shown to correlate with the ABC of these microbeads. Comparing experimental and theoretical results, the theory correctly predicted maximum separation flow rates but overestimated the separation fractional recoveries.