Acoustic separation for bioprocessing

A system for microfluidic cell separation configured to separate target cells from non-target cells in a biofluid, comprising:

• at least one microfluidic separation channel comprising at least one inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet;
• a source of the biofluid in fluid communication with the at least one inlet of the at least one microfluidic separation channel;
• a source of an additive in fluid communication with the source of the biofluid, configured to introduce at least one additive into the biofluid, the additive capable of altering at least one of size of the target cells, size of the non-target cells, compressibility of the biofluid, compressibility of the target cells, compressibility of the non-target cells, aggregation potential of the target cells, and aggregation potential of the non-target cells;
• and
• at least one acoustic transducer coupled to a wall of the at least one microfluidic separation channel.

A kit for microfluidic cell separation comprising:

• at least one microfluidic separation channel configured to separate target cells from non-target cells in a biofluid, the separation channel comprising at least one inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, the separation channel connected to at least one acoustic transducer;
• a source of an additive fluidly connectable with the microfluidic separation channel, the additive capable of altering at least one of size of the target cells, size of the non-target cells, compressibility of the biofluid, compressibility of the target cells, compressibility of the non-target cells, aggregation potential of the target cells, and aggregation potential of the non-target cells;
• and
• instructions to provide a biofluid, pretreat the biofluid by introducing a predetermined volume of the additive into the biofluid, flow the pretreated biofluid into the at least one inlet of the microfluidic separation channel, and apply acoustic energy to the microfluidic separation channel.