Cell separation method using a release system for cell-antibody-substrate conjugates containing a polyethylene glycol spacer unit

1. A method for the separation of target cells from a cell sample comprising the steps:

incubating the cell sample with a releasable conjugate comprising a biotinylated ligand having a biotin moiety, a ligand moiety (Ligand 1 ) and a biotin-binding molecule (bbm) bound to the biotin moiety of the biotinylated ligand wherein the releasable conjugate has the formula

wherein n=1, and wherein the ligand moiety is a first antibody for which the target cells express an antigen and the biotin-binding molecule (bbm) is a second antibody which comprises a magnetic particle as a magnetic particle solid support;

applying a magnetic field to separate the target cells labeled with the solid magnetic particle support from the cell sample by the applied magnetic field;

removing the solid magnetic particle support from the target cell labeled with the solid magnetic particle support by adding a release agent in a sufficient concentration to displace the biotin-binding molecule (bbm) from the biotin moiety, wherein the release agent is added while the target cells are in the presence of the magnetic field; and

eluating the target cells comprising the biotinylated ligand moiety from the magnetic field whereas the magnetic particle solid support remains in the magnetic field.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding an auxiliary release agent to the cell sample, wherein the auxiliary release agent is added while the cells are in the presence of the magnetic field.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the ratio of the release agent to the auxiliary release agent is a molar ratio between about 1:1,000 and 1:1,000,000 release agent:auxiliary release agent.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the release agent and the auxiliary release agent are provided in a sufficient concentration to displace the biotin-binding molecule (bbm) from the biotin moiety of the biotinylated ligand.

5. The method of claim 2 , where in the auxiliary release agent is selected from the group consisting of the following 7-14 compounds:

 7

 8

 9

10

11

12

13

14

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the release agent is at least one selected from the group consisting of biotin and streptavidin.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein removing the solid magnetic particle support from the target cell labelled with the solid magnetic particle support is conducted in a column containing a ferromagnetic material.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antigen is expressed intracellularly or extracellularly.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting at least one of the biotinylated ligand and the biotin-binding molecule (bbm) subsequent to separating the target cells.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein detecting the at least one of the biotinylated ligand and the biotin-binding molecule (bbm) comprises using at least one selected from the group consisting of a chromophore unit, a fluorescence unit, and a radioactive unit as a detection means.

11. A method for the separation of target cells from a cell sample comprising the steps:

incubating the cell sample with a releasable conjugate comprising a biotinylated ligand having a biotin moiety, a ligand moiety (Ligand 1 ) and a biotin-binding molecule (bbm) bound to the biotin moiety of the biotinylated ligand wherein the releasable conjugate has the formula

wherein n=1, and wherein the ligand moiety is a first antibody for which the target cells express an antigen and the biotin-binding molecule (bbm) is a second antibody which comprises a magnetic particle as a magnetic particle solid support;

applying a magnetic field to separate the target cells labeled with the solid magnetic particle support from the cell sample by the applied magnetic field;

removing the solid magnetic particle support from the target cell labeled with the solid magnetic particle support by adding a release agent in a sufficient concentration to displace the biotin-binding molecule (bbm) from the biotin moiety, wherein the release agent is added while the target cells are in the presence of the magnetic field; and

eluating the target cells comprising the biotinylated ligand moiety from the magnetic field whereas the magnetic particle solid support remains in the magnetic field.

12. A method for the separation of target cells from a cell sample comprising the steps:

incubating the cell sample with a releasable conjugate comprising a biotinylated ligand having a biotin moiety, a ligand moiety (Ligand 1 ) and a biotin-binding molecule (bbm) bound to the biotin moiety of the biotinylated ligand wherein the releasable conjugate has the formula

wherein n=1, and wherein the ligand moiety is a first antibody for which the target cells express an antigen and the biotin-binding molecule (bbm) is a second antibody which comprises a magnetic particle as a magnetic particle solid support;

applying a magnetic field to separate the target cells labeled with the solid magnetic particle support from the cell sample by the applied magnetic field;

removing the solid magnetic particle support from the target cell labeled with the solid magnetic particle support by adding a release agent in a sufficient concentration to displace the biotin-binding molecule (bbm) from the biotin moiety, wherein the release agent is added while the target cells are in the presence of the magnetic field; and

eluating the target cells comprising the biotinylated ligand moiety from the magnetic field whereas the magnetic particle solid support remains in the magnetic field.