Enhanced A549 and HeLa Cell Separation Using a Ferromagnetic Strip-integrated Microfluidic Magnetophoresis System

In this study, a microfluidic platform integrating magnetophoresis for the separation of A549 lung cancer cells and HeLa cervical cancer cells was developed. The platform utilized lateral magnetophoresis, leveraging ferromagnetic strips embedded in the microchannel to generate magnetic gradients. A549 cells, labeled with magnetic beads (MBs), were selectively deflected under magnetic force, while unlabeled HeLa cells followed the default hydrodynamic path. The separation chamber was designed to direct magnetic-labeled cells to the target outlet and unlabeled cells to the non-target outlet. Experimental results showed that the efficiency of A549 cell separation increased progressively over time, reaching up to 84.4% with minimal contamination from HeLa cells. This enhancement is attributed to the gradual stabilization of flow and internal conditions within the microchannel, enabling more consistent cell deflection and collection. These findings demonstrate the platform’s capability for high-purity cell sorting and highlight its strong potential for integration into lab-on-a-chip systems for cancer diagnostics and therapeutic monitoring at the point of care.