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Effect of magnetic field strength and flow rate on separation distance and recovery rate in a cell-separating microfluidic device

  • Shahid Mian Peermohamed , Muthaimanoj Periyasamy , Sujatha Lakshminarayanan and Sudharsan Mangadu Natteri ORCID logo EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: September 23, 2025
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International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering
From the journal International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering Volume 23 Issue 11

Abstract

This study presents a numerical investigation into the effect of magnetic field strength and sheath flow rate on the performance of a magnetophoretic Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) device for cell separation. Simulations were conducted using a two-dimensional model based on the principle of negative magnetophoresis to achieve label-free separation of particles with diameters of 15.8 and 5.8 µm. The results revealed that separation distance exhibited a non-linear dependence on sheath flow rate for a given magnetic field, with a distinct peak observed at optimal conditions. At a magnetic field strength of 350 mT and a sheath flow rate of 20 μL/min, the device achieved a maximum separation distance of 1.023 mm and a 100 % recovery rate. Furthermore, the separation distance increased at a diminishing rate with rising magnetic field strength and buffer flow rate, following an exponential profile. The optimized LOC design, based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation, demonstrates that precise control of flow and magnetic parameters can significantly enhance the separation efficiency and recovery rate of microfluidic devices.

Keywords: CFD; microfluidics; lab-on-a-chip; cell-sorting; magnetophoresis
Corresponding author: Sudharsan Mangadu Natteri, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 602105, India, E-mail:

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Indian Nanoelectronics User’s Programme – Idea to Innovation (INUP-i2i), which is funded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), for enabling us to utilise the fabrication and characterisation facilities at the Centre for NEMS and Nano-photonics (CNNP) at IIT Madras. The authors also acknowledge the computational resources – Workstation and COMSOL Multiphysics provided by AR&DB, DRDO–Ministry of Defence, Indian Government through the sanction letter ARDB/01/1032026/M/I.

  1. Research ethics: Not applicable.

  2. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  3. Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  4. Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.

  5. Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.

  6. Research funding: None declared.

  7. Data availability: Not applicable.

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Supplementary Material

This article contains supplementary material (https://doi.org/10.1515/ijcre-2024-0218).

Received: 2024-11-01
Accepted: 2025-09-06
Published Online: 2025-09-23

© 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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https://doi.org/10.1515/ijcre-2024-0218
Keywords for this article
CFD; microfluidics; lab-on-a-chip; cell-sorting; magnetophoresis

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Reviews
  3. Data-driven optimization of biomass conversion pathways: integrating thermochemical processes
  4. Lignocellulose-based nanomaterials: synthesis, characterization, and sustainable applications in wastewater treatment
  5. Articles
  6. Effect of magnetic field strength and flow rate on separation distance and recovery rate in a cell-separating microfluidic device
  7. Hydrogen rich syngas and high-value biofuel production by pyrolysis of different biomass generations and waste plastics: theoretical investigation and feasibility assessment
  8. Tubular microreactor-based Fe(II)-driven advanced oxidation: comparative assessment of percarbonate and persulfate systems for toxic dye removal
  9. Large eddy simulation study of a Venturi cavitation nozzle with two auxiliary flow channels
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  11. Sustainable recovery of valuable metals from high-grade nickel matte residue via sulfur dioxide pressure leaching and freeze crystallization
  12. Innovative adsorption of lead and copper using recycled concrete in aqueous solutions
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