Volume 7, Number 3, p.p. 83–86
Simple non-invasive cell separation method using magnetic aptamer-conjugated microbeads and nuclease digestion
Yu Anzai,1, Hideyuki Terazono,2 and Kenji Yasuda2*
1Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
2Department of Biomedical information, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 2-3-10 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan
A non-invasive and reversible method for labelling and separating cells has been developed by using high-affinity oligonucleotides and nuclease digestion. The target cells are first attached to aptamer-conjugated magnetic microbeads, then magnetically separated from the unlabelled cells, and finally detached from the microbeads by nuclease digestion. The digestion process had no significant influence on the growth of the target cells during or following cultivation. These results suggest that the method does not change the nature of cell activity and thus does not interfere with further applications of the separated cells
Keywords: aptamer, cell-SELEX, human acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, magnetic cell sorting, nuclease