Figure 1
From: Rapid and label-free microfluidic neutrophil purification and phenotyping in diabetes mellitus
Single step and label-free neutrophil sorting using Dean Flow Fractionation (DFF) microfluidic technology.
(A) Experimental workflow for neutrophil isolation and phenotyping in T2DM patients. Blood samples are lysed and processed using the 2-inlet, 4-outlet spiral microdevice for efficient size-based neutrophil sorting. The purified neutrophils are used for in vitro cell rolling assay in a microchannel functionalized with E-selectin, as well as shape measurement (neutrophil circularity). (B) Schematic illustration of DFF separation principle. Under the influence of Dean vortices, small cellular constituents (platelets and lysed RBCs) and free haemoglobin migrate laterally towards inner wall and back to outer wall due to Dean drag forces (FD (yellow arrows)). Larger leukocytes experience additional strong inertial lift forces (FL (red arrows)) and due to the strong dependence of FL and FD on cell size, larger neutrophils/monocytes (10–12 μm) focus closer to the inner wall and are sorted into outlet 2 while smaller lymphocytes (~7–8 μm) are collected at outlet 3. Outlet 4 is used for removal of platelets, lysed RBCs and free haemoglobin.
