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Maciej Zborowski, Ph.D. Profile Slides Publications Program

Cell Separation Research Laboratory

Personnel

  • Francesca Carpino (CSU Ph.D. Graduate Student, 2007)
  • Leonardo Cinque, Ph.D.
  • Ying Jing (OSU Ph.D. Graduate Student 2006)
  • Boris Kligman, D.Eng.
  • Lee R. Moore, M.Sc.
  • P. Stephen Williams, Ph.D.
  • Elizabeth Zborowska, M.Sc.
 

Summary of Research

Magnetic flow sorting is a novel technique of cell selection based on achieving a steady state separation between magnetic and non-magnetic cell streams in a flowing suspension. Its selectivity is based on cell tagging with cell surface marker antibodies and a magnetic colloid. The characteristic feature of the method is its capability to fractionate cells based on the surface antigen expression. In the previous funding periods we have designed and built bench-scale prototypes and developed quantitative experimental and theoretical methods of the magnetic flow sorter evaluation. We propose to continue these studies guided by the following specific aims.

Aim 1. To develop and to characterize novel magnetic beads. The performance of the sorter depends on the quality of the magnetic label. Our previous studies have shown that small, colloidal magnetic label may provide means for cell sorting based on cell surface antigen expression. Such sorting requires suitable magnetic calibration beads and magnetic cell labeling colloid. These novel magnetic beads will be developed and characterized in collaboration with Dr. Shlomo Margel, Bar-Ilan University, Israel, a leading expert in the field of microbeads. The magnetophoretic mobilities of the monodisperse calibration beads, and cells labeled with the magnetic colloid, will be measured using cell tracking velocimetry (CTV), in collaboration with Dr. Jeff Chalmers, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.

Aim 2. To instrument and to calibrate magnetic flow sorters. The local effects of the magnetic and viscous forces acting on the cell determine the global performance parameters of the flow sorter. The flow sorter prototypes will be equipped with the on-line chromatographic cell concentration detectors on the effluent lines and interfaced with the personal computer-based data acquisition software for real-time control of the sorting process. The magnetic calibration beads will be used to calibrate the instrument by determining the distribution of the beads between effluent fractions as a function of flow distribution in the sorter channel. The sorter calibration data will provide a basis for systematic evaluation of the sorter applications.

Aim 3. To evaluate applications of the magnetic flow sorter in cell therapies of cancer. Cell separation is an important component of cell therapies of cancer. We will continue the existing clinical collaborations, and develop new such collaborations, within the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and the Ohio State University Medical School, to pursue this part of the study. There are three distinct applications for which the magnetic flow sorter will be tested: the engineering of peripheral blood mononuclear cells autografts and allografts for patients on aggressive chemotherapy; selection of self-renewing, pluripotent stem cells from multipotent, non-renewing progenitor cells; and development of cancer vaccines. The continuing support by this grant of the core activities related to the novel technique of the magnetic flow sorting will provide a platform for further exploration of practical aspects of this new technology.