title: Fast sorting of CD4+ T cells from whole blood using glass microbubbles.
abstract: The isolation of CD4 positive T lymphocyte (CD4+) from peripheral blood is important for monitoring patients after HIV infection. Here, we demonstrate a fast isolation strategy for CD4+ cells that involves mixing blood and glass microbubbles. After the specific binding of target cells to the microbubbles carrying specific antibodies on their surface, target cells will spontaneously float to the top of the blood vial and can be quickly separated. Using this strategy, we demonstrate that the isolation of CD4+ cells in less than 5 minutes and with better than 90% efficiency. This strategy for cell isolation based on buoyancy and glass microbubbles is quick and inexpensive, minimizes blood handling, does not require magnetic fields, or centrifugation equipment, and could lead to new, efficient strategies for AIDS diagnosis in resource-limited areas.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Nanomedicine, National Health Research Institutes, No. 35, Keyan Road, Zhunan Town, Miaoli County 35053, Taiwan ; Institute of Nanoengineering and Microsystems, National Tsing Hua University, No. 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Hsien
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nanoengineering and Microsystems, National Tsing Hua University, No. 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chihchen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: BioMEMS Resource Center, Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgical Services, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Irimia
authors.affiliation: BioMEMS Resource Center, Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgical Services, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toner