Capture and reagent exchange (CARE) wells for cell isolation, labeling, and characterization

Abstract Cell therapy is an emerging field that uses cells as living drugs to treat a broad array of acute and chronic diseases. Most cell therapies in clinical trials are made using standard bench methods, whose open processing require manufacturing expensive GMP cleanrooms. As progress, new methods needed enable scalable while maintaining process integrity, reducing environmental exposure, limiting critical reagent use. Here, we introduce capture exchange (CARE) wells allow steps be integrated into closed microfluidic device. The unique property CARE they from attached channel without loss wells. We show through simulation experiment this feature present cylindrical depth sufficient generate multiple recirculating vortices independent flow rate the channel. demonstrate can used perform separation, on-chip labeling, characterization monocytes first toward system for production dendritic therapies. Immunomagnetic separation CD14 + peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMCs) was performed with purity 97 ± 2% efficiency 50 17%. On-chip washing, were two surface markers (CD14 HLA-DR) on over 3000 captured 5193-well combination high robust performance wide range input operating conditions makes technique promising approach analysis