A combined dielectrophoresis, traveling wave dielectrophoresis and electrorotation microchip for the manipulation and characterization of human malignant cells.
The study of the dielectric properties of micrometer- or nanometer-scale particles is of particular interest in present-day applications of biomedical engineering. Electrokinetics utilises electrically energised microelectrode structures within microfluidic chambers to noninvasively probe the physiological structure of live cancer cells. A system is described that combines the three complementary techniques of dielectrophoresis (DEP), travelling wave dielectrophoresis (TWD) and electrorotation (ROT) for the first time on a single, integrated chip (3 x 6 mm). The chip employs planar microelectrode arrays fabricated on a silicon substrate to facilitate the synthesis of the various nonuniform electric fields required for the controlled manipulation, measurement and characterization of mammalian cells. A study of the dielectric properties of human malignant cells (Daudi and NCI-H929) was performed to demonstrate the potential and the versatility of the system in providing a fully programmable microsystem.
Biosystems Research and Applications Group, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
Esther G
EG
Cen
Colin
C
Dalton
Youlan
Y
Li
Sophia
S
Adamia
Linda M
LM
Pilarski
Karan V I S
KV
Kaler
D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D048429:Cell Size / Q000502:physiology; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000473:pathology*; D012666:Semiconductors