CONJUGATE OF MAGNETIC PARTICLE AND SURFACE MODIFIER LINKED THROUGH CLEAVABLE PEPTIDE BOND

A conjugate is provided for cell processing, which comprises a magnetic particle and a surface modifier having specific affinity to a target cell. The particle and modifier are linked through a cleavable peptide bond. In a method of cell processing, the conjugate is attached to a target cell; the target cell attached to the conjugate is subject to magnetic processing; the peptide bond is cleaved to separate the processed target cell from the magnetic particle; the target cell separated from the magnetic particle is attached to a substrate. The magnetic particle may include an iron oxide, and the surface modifier may include a glucosamine. The particle and modifier may be linked by a linker comprising a protease recognition site and a peptide bond. The linker links the surface modifier to the particle, and cleavage of the peptide bond is catalyzed by a specific protease that recognizes the protease recognition site.