SYSTEMS, METHODS AND DEVICES FOR MAGNETIC SCANNING FOR FERROFLUID BASED ASSAY
Embodiments herein include a scanning apparatus for detecting target particles present within a ferrofluid, where the scanning apparatus can be used in a microfluidic system. The methods and structures described herein also include, for example, a scanning device comprising an optical system, a first magnet disposed on a first side of the optical system, where the first magnet can be non-rotatable, a second magnet disposed on a second side of the optical system, opposite the first magnet, where the second magnet can be rotatable, and a lever arm coupled to the second magnet, where the lever is capable of rotating the second magnet.
1 . A magnetic force directing method for directing at least one non-bound particle in a microfluidic channel towards a surface of the microfluidic channel, method comprising:
moving a scanning device across a capture region of a microfluidic channel, wherein the scanning device comprises:
an optical system;
a first magnet disposed on a first side of the optical system, wherein the first magnet is non-rotatable;
a second magnet disposed on a second side of the optical system, opposite the first magnet, wherein the second magnet is rotatable; and
a lever arm coupled to the second magnet, wherein the lever arm is configured to rotate the second magnet;
rotating a pole of the second magnet to face a like pole of the first magnet; and
producing a magnetic force to push at least one non-bound particle in the microfluidic channel towards a first surface of the microfluidic channel.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the method further comprises moving the first magnet and the second magnet away from the microfluidic channel along the sides of the optical system,
a plurality of target particles are bound to a functionalized surface of the capture region, and wherein a plurality of non-bound particles are disposed adjacent the bound target particles,
rotating a pole of the rotatable magnet comprises moving the lever a distance towards the surface of the channel.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein:
the first and second magnet are moved away from the microfluidic channel a predetermined distance, and/or
the magnetic force does not push the at least one non-bound particle towards the first surface of the microfluidic channel.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the predetermined distance is between about 12 mm to about 16 mm away from the microfluidic channel.
5 - 6 . (canceled)
7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein:
the scanning device detects the plurality of bound particles in the capture region, but does not detect the non-bound particles in the microfluidic channel, and/or
the plurality of target particles remain bound to the functionalized surface.
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising wherein the scanning device is configured to count the bound particles in the capture region.
9 - 10 . (canceled)
11 . A particle scanning system comprising:
an optical system;
a first magnet disposed on a first side of the optical system, wherein the first magnet is non-rotatable;
a second magnet disposed on a second side of the optical system, opposite the first magnet, wherein the second magnet is rotatable; and
a lever arm coupled to the second magnet, wherein the lever is configured to rotate the second magnet.
12 . The scanning device of claim 11 , wherein:
the scanning device is configured to move across a capture region of a ferrofluid system channel, wherein the scanning device is configured to detect a number of a target species located in the capture region,
the second magnet is rotatable by about 180 degrees, and/or
the lever is further configured to move both the first magnet and the second magnet from a first position to a second position along the sides of the optical system.
13 - 14 . (canceled)
15 . The scanning device of claim 12 , wherein:
the first position comprises opposite magnetic poles facing one another, and the opposite poles are located a distance between about 12 mm to about 16 mm from a terminal end of the optical system,
the second position comprises like poles facing each other, and the like poles are located within about 1 mm from a terminal end of the optical system,
and/or
the lever is motorized and configured to move the first magnet and the second magnet from the second position to the first position.
16 - 17 . (canceled)
18 . A ferrofluidic particle separation system for separating at least one target particle from a sample suspended in a ferrofluid, the system comprising:
a ferrofluid including a sample containing at least one target particle;
a microfluidic channel having an inlet, and at least one outlet, wherein the inlet is to receive the ferrofluid;
a plurality of electrodes traversing at least a portion of the microfluidic channel length and generating a magnetic field pattern along the microfluidic channel length when a current is applied to at least one of the plurality of electrodes;
a scanning device for detecting the at least one target particle within a capture region of the microfluidic channel, the scanning device comprising:
an optical system;
a first magnet disposed on a first side of the optical system, wherein the first magnet is non-rotatable;
a second magnet disposed on a second side of the optical system, opposite the first magnet, wherein the second magnet is rotatable; and
a lever coupled to the second magnet, wherein the lever is configured to rotate the magnet.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the sample comprises living cells.
20 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one target particle is separated from the sample based on one or more characteristics of the at least one target particle.
21 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one target particle is separated from the sample by directing the at least one target particle to a selected outlet or trapping the at least one target particle based on a spacing of at least two electrodes of the plurality of electrodes.
22 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one target particle is separated from the sample based on a characteristic of the at least one target particle selected from the group consisting of target size, target shape, and target elasticity.
23 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the lever rotates a magnetic pole of the second magnet to face a like magnetic pole of the first magnet to generate a magnetic force in a downward direction.
24 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the magnetic force pushes at least one non-targeted particle within the microfluidic channel to a lower surface of the microfluidic channel.
25 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the scanning device measures the quantity of the at least one target particle disposed in a capture region of the channel.
26 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the lever is configured to move the first and the second magnets from a first position to a second position along the sides of the optical system.
27 . The system of claim 25 , wherein the at least one target particle is bound by a functionalized surface of the capture region.
28 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the lever is motorized and is configured to rotate the second magnet by about 180 degrees.