Magnetic separation of undifferentiated mouse Embryonic Stem (ES) cells from neural progenitor cultures using a microfluidic device

Embryonic Stem (ES) cells are cell lines derived directly from the pre-implantation embryo. The generation of pure populations of neural progenitors from ES cells and their further differentiation into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes allows the potential use of these cells for the cure of neurodegenerative diseases and for neural drugs testing. An integrated device based on magnetophoresis, including microfluidic channels and incorporated high magnetic field gradients, was used to control the motion of cells, labeled with magnetic particles (MPs), through a biochip. In this work, the magnetophoretic device has been used for depletion of tumorogenic pluripotent stem cells from 46C mouse ES cell cultures by the specific recognition and labeling of the stage specific embryonic antigen 1 (SSEA-1). Purity degrees ranging from 95% to 99,5% were obtained and determined by flow cytometry analysis.