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Updated: Jul 7, 2026
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Microfluidics-based High-throughput Circulating Tumor Cell Sorting and Single-cell Sequencing Technology
Published on: November 14, 2025
Precise programmable tumor cell subpopulation sorting via an electromagnetic microfluidic platform
Yuan Gao1, Zhenwei Liang2, Zeyu Wang1
1School of Mechanical-Electronic and Vehicle Engineering, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 102616, China. qinhua@bucea.edu.cn.
Lab on a Chip
|July 6, 2026
Summary
A novel electromagnetic microfluidic platform precisely sorts cells by protein expression, enabling dynamic control over capture thresholds and gentle cell release for advanced research.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Microfluidics
- Cell Sorting
Background:
- High-throughput cell sorting is crucial for understanding diseases and finding treatments.
- Conventional methods have limitations in isolating multiple subpopulations and preserving cell function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a programmable electromagnetic microfluidic platform for advanced cell sorting.
- To overcome limitations of existing magnetic cell sorting techniques.
Main Methods:
- Integrated an electromagnetic array with a microfluidic chip to generate tunable magnetic fields.
- Utilized multi-channel currents for dynamic control of cell capture thresholds and release.
- Employed semiconductor temperature control for gentle cell recovery.
Main Results:
- Precisely classified cells into four subpopulations based on protein expression levels.
- Demonstrated dynamic regulation of phenotypic expression profiles.
- Achieved spatially localized enrichment of multiple cell types while preserving cellular functions.
Conclusions:
- The developed platform offers a scalable and flexible solution for complex cell sorting tasks.
- It has significant potential for tumor heterogeneity analysis, rare cell isolation, and drug evaluation.
