Magnetic Cell Separator

A magnetic cell separator is an instrument that isolates specific cells from a mixed suspension using magnetism. Cells are first labeled with antibody-coupled magnetic beads, then the sample is passed through a column placed in a magnet, which holds the labeled cells while everything else flows through.

Target cells are tagged with magnetic beads that bind a surface marker, and the suspension is loaded onto a column inside a strong magnet. The magnetic field retains the bead-labeled cells in the column while unlabeled cells flow through; removing the column from the magnet then releases the captured cells.

In positive selection the target cells are magnetically labeled and retained in the column, then eluted. In negative selection the unwanted cells are labeled and held back, so the untouched target cells flow through. A magnetic cell separator supports both strategies depending on which population is tagged.

A magnetic separation column provides the matrix where bead-labeled cells are trapped inside the magnet's field. It enriches or depletes a chosen cell population — for example isolating T cells, stem cells, or tumor cells — and is a core step in many immunology and cell-therapy workflows.

Yes. Generate the magnetic cell separator in SciFig, then export it as a transparent PNG for slides and posters, or vectorize it into editable SVG to relabel the magnet, column, and cell flow and restyle every element before publishing it in your figure.

An icon is a compact magnetic separator used as a visual element in a larger workflow figure, while a labeled diagram calls out the magnet, column, magnetically labeled cells, and flow-through for teaching or methods sections. SciFig can generate either a minimal icon or a fully labeled separation diagram.