Centrifugo-magnetophoretic separation and routing of particles

This paper reports on the manipulation of magnetic particles in a microfluidic environment through a novel, 2-dimensional particle separation combining centrifugal sedimentation with magnetic deflection. Operation in a centrifugally enabled, stopped-flow mode (i.e., no fluid flow, mere sedimentation) minimizes divergent flow lines and hydrodynamic instabilities that are typical in pressure-driven microfluidic set-ups. Hence, our novel system excels with density, size, and magnetic-field dependent particle separation in a frequency-controlled, 2-dimensional force field.