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Controlled counter-flow motion of magnetic bead chains rolling along microchannels

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Abstract

We demonstrate controlled transport of superparamagnetic beads in the opposite direction of a laminar flow. A permanent magnet assembles 200 nm magnetic particles into about 200 μm long bead chains that are aligned in parallel to the magnetic field lines. Due to a magnetic field gradient, the bead chains are attracted towards the wall of a microfluidic channel. A rotation of the permanent magnet results in a rotation of the bead chains in the opposite direction to the magnet. Due to friction on the surface, the bead chains roll along the channel wall, even in counter-flow direction, up to at a maximum counter-flow velocity of 8 mm s−1. Based on this approach, magnetic beads can be accurately manoeuvred within microfluidic channels. This counter-flow motion can be efficiently be used in Lab-on-a-Chip systems, e.g. for implementing washing steps in DNA purification.

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Acknowledgments

This study is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (16SV3528).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. HSG-IMIT, Wilhelm-Schickard-Strasse 10, 78052, Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany

    Marc Karle, Johannes Wöhrle, Nils Paust, Günter Roth, Roland Zengerle & Felix von Stetten

  2. Department of Microsystems Engineering, Laboratory for MEMS Applications, IMTEK, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 106, 79110, Freiburg, Germany

    Junichi Miwa, Günter Roth, Roland Zengerle & Felix von Stetten

  3. Centre for Biological Signalling Studies (bioss), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

    Günter Roth & Roland Zengerle

Authors
  1. Marc Karle
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  2. Johannes Wöhrle
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  3. Junichi Miwa
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  4. Nils Paust
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  5. Günter Roth
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  6. Roland Zengerle
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  7. Felix von Stetten
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Correspondence to Marc Karle.

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Karle, M., Wöhrle, J., Miwa, J. et al. Controlled counter-flow motion of magnetic bead chains rolling along microchannels. Microfluid Nanofluid 10, 935–939 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-010-0727-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-010-0727-8

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