Portable magnetic levitation technologies

Abstract

Magnetic levitation (MagLev) is a density-based method which uses magnets and a paramagnetic medium to suspend multiple objects simultaneously as a result of an equilibrium between gravitational, buoyancy, and magnetic forces acting on the particle. Early MagLev setups were bulky with a need for optical or fluorescence microscopes for imaging, confining portability, and accessibility. Here, we review design criteria and the most recent end-applications of portable smartphone-based and self-contained MagLev setups for density-based sorting and analysis of microparticles. Additionally, we review the most recent end applications of those setups, including disease diagnosis, cell sorting and characterization, protein detection, and point-of-care testing.