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The two popular magnetic bead cell sorting technologies currently are column-based and column-free. Both methods can efficiently isolate high quality cells. So, what are the differences between the two?
The process of column-based sorting involves incubation, column passage, and elution, taking about 30 minutes. The specific steps are as follows:
Column-based sorting requires the sorting column, separation stand, and magnetic separator, employing small beads ranging from 20 to 50nm, with the advantage of high purity.
If column-free sorting is used, the process from incubation to separation typically takes between 8 to 25 minutes, as follows:
Addition of antibodies and incubation
Addition of magnetic beads and incubation
Magnetic pole adsorption for cell separation
Column-free sorting only utilizes a sorting magnetic pole without the need for a sorting column, paired with 100nm magnetic beads , offering the advantage of speed.
For a detailed comparison of specific differences, please refer to the large image
| Column-based sorting | Column-free sorting | |
| Process | Incubation – Column passage – Elution (about 30 minutes) | Incubation – Separation (8-25 minutes) |
| Consumables and devices | Sorting column, sorting bracket, sorting magnetic pole | Sorting magnetic pole |
| Bead size | Small beads, 20-50nm | Medium-sized beads ~100nm |
| Advantage | High purity | Fast speed |
Through the efforts of our R&D team, adjustments to the column packing material formulation and the formulation of the column-free sorting reagent kit have been made, enabling both sorting methods to efficiently and effectively sort high-purity cells. Column-based sorting can isolate low-abundance target cells from complex mixed cell samples, while column-free sorting has advantages in experiments involving complex surface antigen-labeled cell separation. Each sorting method has its own strengths.
