SPLITT is the simple acronym for split-flow lateral transport thin-channel fractionation, a newly developed family of techniques with preparative- scale and other unique separation capabilities. Due to the thin channel dimensions, rapid and high resolution separations are possible. Operation of SPLITT requires a field to drive the lateral transport according to a physico-chemical property of the sample. Using a gravitational/centrifugal field, species are fractionated according to size and density. Application of the single-gravity SPLIIT system range from silica particles to sea sediments. Using the more powerful centrifugal SPLIIT Fractionation (CSF) system, submicron to micron sized particles including blood cells have been fractionated. The recently published (1995) application to human blood demonstrated that CSF could isolate 6 fractions (platelets, proteins, neutrophils, erythrocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes) at 92-96% purity, 97-99% viability. We propose to further this application to enrich the stem cell population of the mononuclear cell fraction of peripheral blood. This procedure would then be instrumental in treatment of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. As other less efficient separation techniques (e.g. Centrifugal Elutriation) have successfully enriched stem cells based on size and density properties, we expect that CSF will generate stem cell fractions of higher purity.Proposed commercial application:Development of the CSF system for stem cell enrichment would result in a procedure and instrumentation for cancer treatment. As stem cells are also a proposed host for insertion of healthy genes, the instrumentation could be used in genetics research labs. Other commercial application include studies of motile micro-organisms such as bacteria, and for general bulk cell separations.National Cancer Institute (NCI)
