Cell-Sorting Device Uses Electromagnetic Levitation to Precisely Direct Cell Movement

Sorting different cell types—such as cancerous versus healthy or live versus dead cells—is a critical task in biology and medicine. However, conventional methods often require labeling, chemical exposure, or mechanical stress that can damage delicate samples. Now, researchers have developed a contact-free electromagnetic levitation system that can separate cells based purely on their physical properties, revolutionizing how scientists and clinicians handle precious biological materials.

This advanced cell-sorting device, named Electro-LEV, was developed by researchers at Stanford Medicine (Stanford, CA, USA) and uses electromagnetic fields to levitate and separate cells in real time—without dyes, antibodies, or centrifugation. Building on a magnetic levitation system first developed in 2015, the device consists of two small magnets—each roughly the size of a stick of gum—positioned one millimeter apart with a narrow glass capillary between them.

When cells suspended in a paramagnetic solution pass through this space, they levitate at different heights depending on their density and magnetic susceptibility. By adding electromagnetic coils to the magnets, researchers can now finely adjust the electric current and magnetic gradient, dynamically controlling how cells rise or fall within the chamber.

Cells levitating at distinct heights flow into separate outlets, allowing researchers to isolate populations such as live versus dead cells with precision. In a study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, that used breast cancer, lung cancer, fibroblast, and white blood cell samples, Electro-LEV successfully enriched live cells from a mixed population, raising the proportion of viable cells from 50% to 93%, and even from 10% to 70% in challenging samples.

Unlike conventional centrifugation or fluorescence-based sorting, Electro-LEV operates gently, preserving cell integrity for further genomic or therapeutic use. The researchers also observed that clusters of cancer cells responded differently to magnetic field changes compared to single cells—a discovery that could help identify aggressive, metastasis-prone cancer clusters in the future.

Because it works without labeling or harsh processing, Electro-LEV could find broad applications—from cancer diagnostics and drug screening to stem cell transplantation and organoid assembly. It may also enable real-time control in microbial sorting and microrobotics, expanding its reach beyond cell biology.

“In the clinical setting, you may have a very low volume biopsy sample, and you want to look at certain cells and keep them viable for further genomic testing — that would be a perfect application for this technology,” said Gozde Durmus, PhD, senior author of the paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences describing the new technology. “It’s a broad, versatile platform. I think there will be applications that we haven’t even thought of yet.”

Related Links:
Stanford Medicine