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Size-based Sorting of Magnetic Microparticles using Patterned Circular Arrays in Variable Magnetic Fields
Cullom, Edward T. (Thomas) Sanchez, Noah D. Raulston, Robert
Cullom, Edward T. (Thomas)
Sanchez, Noah D.
Raulston, Robert
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Keywords
URCAS, Student research, 2018 Spring, Class of 2018, Class of 2019, Physics, Department of, Magnetism, Microparticles, Locomotion, Lab-on-a-chip
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Abstract
The controlled locomotion of superparamagnetic microparticles is useful for lab-on-chip biomedical devices and sorting heterogeneous particle populations. We have built and refined a low-cost system capable of applying tunable magnetic forces and moving particles of varying
sizes. Controlled locomotion is made possible by patterning micro-sized circular NiFe arrays onto a 1 cm2 silicon chip, generating magnetic traps at the circles' peripheries when external fields are present. The direction of particle motion is determined by pre-programmed sequences of changing magnetic field and input from a joystick, allowing the user to manipulate the
particles in real-time. Particles of varying sizes were used, ranging from 2'm ? 4'm in diameter.
For given field sequences, we have found that each particle has a maximum velocity, dependent
on its size and selected features of the platform, at which it can travel across the array. At higher
velocities, microparticles of differing sizes transverse the circular array at different rates. The particles posess an intrinsic cut-off velocity, dependent on diameter, at which they can no longer
transverse the array. This allows the user to selectively manipulate particles of a particular size, potentially allowing for sorting of the microparticles.
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Presentation by Thomas Cullom ('18), Noah Sanchez ('19), and Robert Raulston ('19) delivered at the Rhodes College Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Symposium (URCAS).