A method is described for controlling an oil spill by seeding micron-sized magnetizable particles in the oil. Once seeded, particles can form a unique and preferential bond with the oil resulting in creation of a colloidal mixture. This bond forms as a result of a combination of forces including the intermolecular Van der Waal forces. Once this bond is formed, the oil is rendered magnetic and can be controlled and moved in response to a magnetic field. This can include removing oil from water, reducing the diffusion rate of oil on water, magnetically lifting oil from water or nonporous surfaces, as well as separating the magnetic material from the oil.

A method is described for controlling an oil spill by seeding micron-sized magnetizable particles in the oil. Once seeded, particles can form a unique and preferential bond with the oil resulting in creation of a colloidal mixture. This bond forms as a result of a combination of forces including the intermolecular Van der Waal forces. Once this bond is formed, the oil is rendered magnetic and can be controlled and moved in response to a magnetic field. This can include removing oil from water, reducing the diffusion rate of oil on water, magnetically lifting oil from water or nonporous surfaces, as well as separating the magnetic material from the oil.

A method is described for controlling an oil spill by seeding micron-sized magnetizable particles in the oil. Once seeded, particles can form a unique and preferential bond with the oil resulting in creation of a colloidal mixture. This bond forms as a result of a combination of forces including the intermolecular Van der Waal forces. Once this bond is formed, the oil is rendered magnetic and can be controlled and moved in response to a magnetic field. This can include removing oil from water, reducing the diffusion rate of oil on water, magnetically lifting oil from water or nonporous surfaces, as well as separating the magnetic material from the oil.

A method is described for controlling an oil spill by seeding micron-sized magnetizable particles in the oil. Once seeded, particles can form a unique and preferential bond with the oil resulting in creation of a colloidal mixture. This bond forms as a result of a combination of forces including the intermolecular Van der Waal forces. Once this bond is formed, the oil is rendered magnetic and can be controlled and moved in response to a magnetic field. This can include removing oil from water, reducing the diffusion rate of oil on water, magnetically lifting oil from water or nonporous surfaces, as well as separating the magnetic material from the oil.

There is provided system and a separation substrate device for use with an NLM separator in separating and/or detecting at least one target analyte in a sample, the substrate comprising a micromagnet array of a plurality of micromagnets, the micromagnet array comprising a first capture region, a second focussing region, and, a third detection region, the focussing region comprising a converging and/or diverging micromagnet array region. Also provided is a method for separating and detecting at least one target analyte in a sample. The method including: contacting a plurality of magnetic beads with a sample, the magnetic beads functionalized for binding with one or more target analytes in a sample to form aggregates; providing the sample including magnetic beads and aggregates to a separating substrate comprising a micromagnet array of a plurality of micromagnets; transporting the magnetic beads and aggregates relative to the micromagnet array to provide separation and enable detection of the magnetic beads and aggregates; detecting motion of the beads or aggregates of the sample on the array in response to the applied magnetic field and/or detecting beads or aggregates of the sample on the array at a detection region of the array.

There is provided system and a separation substrate device for use with an NLM separator in separating and/or detecting at least one target analyte in a sample, the substrate comprising a micromagnet array of a plurality of micromagnets, the micromagnet array comprising a first capture region, a second focussing region, and, a third detection region, the focussing region comprising a converging and/or diverging micromagnet array region. Also provided is a method for separating and detecting at least one target analyte in a sample. The method including: contacting a plurality of magnetic beads with a sample, the magnetic beads functionalized for binding with one or more target analytes in a sample to form aggregates; providing the sample including magnetic beads and aggregates to a separating substrate comprising a micromagnet array of a plurality of micromagnets; transporting the magnetic beads and aggregates relative to the micromagnet array to provide separation and enable detection of the magnetic beads and aggregates; detecting motion of the beads or aggregates of the sample on the array in response to the applied magnetic field and/or detecting beads or aggregates of the sample on the array at a detection region of the array.

A cell magnetic sorting system comprises a continuous magnetic cell sorting apparatus. The continuous magnetic cell sorting apparatus comprises a rotating magnetic field generator, a forward solenoid and a reverse solenoid; the forward solenoid and the reverse solenoid surround the rotating magnetic field generator in forward and reverse directions, one end of the forward solenoid is connected to a cell solution source, the other end of the forward solenoid is connected to one end of the reverse solenoid through a T-shaped tube, an inlet of a T-shaped tube is connected to an outlet of the forward solenoid, a first outlet of the T-shaped tube is connected to an inlet of the reverse solenoid, a second outlet of the T-shaped tube is connected to an inlet of the target cell collection container.

A cell magnetic sorting system comprises a continuous magnetic cell sorting apparatus. The continuous magnetic cell sorting apparatus comprises a rotating magnetic field generator, a forward solenoid and a reverse solenoid; the forward solenoid and the reverse solenoid surround the rotating magnetic field generator in forward and reverse directions, one end of the forward solenoid is connected to a cell solution source, the other end of the forward solenoid is connected to one end of the reverse solenoid through a T-shaped tube, an inlet of a T-shaped tube is connected to an outlet of the forward solenoid, a first outlet of the T-shaped tube is connected to an inlet of the reverse solenoid, a second outlet of the T-shaped tube is connected to an inlet of the target cell collection container.

A method for advancing a non-magnetically responsive functional agent includes steps (a) and (b). In step (a), a magnetically responsive agent construct at a target site is subjected to a homogeneous static magnetic field such that magnetically responsive micro particles are aligned to obtain a magnetic chain while the non-magnetically responsive functional agent is separated and discrete from the magnetic chain. In step (b), the magnetic chain is subjected to a rotational magnetic field to cause repeating breaking up and reformation of the magnetic chain such that the non-magnetically responsive functional agent is displaced to a predetermined position.

A method for advancing a non-magnetically responsive functional agent includes steps (a) and (b). In step (a), a magnetically responsive agent construct at a target site is subjected to a homogeneous static magnetic field such that magnetically responsive micro particles are aligned to obtain a magnetic chain while the non-magnetically responsive functional agent is separated and discrete from the magnetic chain. In step (b), the magnetic chain is subjected to a rotational magnetic field to cause repeating breaking up and reformation of the magnetic chain such that the non-magnetically responsive functional agent is displaced to a predetermined position.