Cell Partitioning Design for Microfluidic ATPS Devices: A Dynamic Energy Strategy and Calculation Using Chondrocytes and Model Microparticles

Sorting and isolating specific cells from heterogeneous populations are crucial for many biomedical applications, including drug discovery and medical diagnostics. Conventional methods such as Fluorescent Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) and Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting (MACS) face limitations in throughput, cost, and the ability to separate subtly different cells. Cell partitioning in Aqueous Two-Phase Systems (ATPSs) offers a biocompatible and cost-effective alternative, particularly when combined with continuous-flow microfluidics. However, it remains challenging to rationally design microfluidic ATPS devices and operation to separate cells with similar origin but different phenotypes. In this paper, using a model ATPS, polyethylene glycol (PEG)—Dextran (Dex) system, and model cells, human chondrocytes (hChs), and carboxylated polystyrene (PS) microparticles, we systematically characterized the material properties affecting cell partitioning in ATPSs, such as surface energies of the solutions and cells and solution viscosities. We developed an energy balance approach between interfacial energy and viscous dissipation to estimate the interface translocation dynamic of cells partitioning into the preferred phase. Combining the experimental measurement and the energy balance model, our calculation reveals that the time required for complete cell partitioning at the ATPS interface can be exploited in microfluidic ATPS devices to separate hChs with different phenotypes (healthy and diseased). We expect our dynamic energy approach to provide a basis and a design strategy for optimizing microfluidic ATPS devices to achieve the efficient separation of phenotypically similar cell populations and further expand the potential of microfluidic cell separation.