Methods for preparing therapeutically active cells using microfluidics

A method for preparing a purified leukocyte composition comprising:

• a) purifying leukocytes from an apheresis sample, wherein the sample comprises leukocytes and platelets and the leukocytes are separated from the platelets by:
• i) performing a size-based separation using a microfluidic device configured to separate cells by deterministic lateral displacement to produce an enriched product in which, compared to the sample, the percentage of platelets has decreased and the percentage of leukocytes has increased;
• ii) in addition to the size-based separation, performing an affinity-based separation by binding one or more types of leukocytes to a carrier that binds to the one or more types of leukocytes with specificity, and then separating the carrier-bound cells from cells not bound to carrier;
• b) after the purification of step a), activating and expanding the purified leukocytes in culture to produce the purified leukocyte composition.