Acoustic microfluidic platform for size and density-based cell separation

We present sheathless microfluidic platform for size-based and density-based cell separation using standing surface acoustic waves (SSAWs). Current gold standard cell separation techniques are capable of separation based only on cell size; hence, separation cannot be achieved for same-size cells with different physical properties such as density. The distinguishing feature of the present microfluidic platform is that not only size-based but also density-based separation is accomplished without the use of external sheath flow for positioning and aligning of cells. In this study, we demonstrated the separation of two different-size particle streams (3μm and 10μm) as well as the separation of two 10μm diameter, different-density particle streams (1.05g/cm³ and 1.71g/cm³) with this microfluidic platform without introducing any external sheath flow.