A continuous high-throughput bioparticle sorter based on 3D traveling-wave dielectrophoresis.
We present a high throughput (maximum flow rate approximately 10 microl/min or linear velocity approximately 3 mm/s) continuous bio-particle sorter based on 3D traveling-wave dielectrophoresis (twDEP) at an optimum AC frequency of 500 kHz. The high throughput sorting is achieved with a sustained twDEP particle force normal to the continuous through-flow, which is applied over the entire chip by a single 3D electrode array. The design allows continuous fractionation of micron-sized particles into different downstream sub-channels based on differences in their twDEP mobility on both sides of the cross-over. Conventional DEP is integrated upstream to focus the particles into a single levitated queue to allow twDEP sorting by mobility difference and to minimize sedimentation and field-induced lysis. The 3D electrode array design minimizes the offsetting effect of nDEP (negative DEP with particle force towards regions with weak fields) on twDEP such that both forces increase monotonically with voltage to further increase the throughput. Effective focusing and separation of red blood cells from debris-filled heterogeneous samples are demonstrated, as well as size-based separation of poly-dispersed liposome suspensions into two distinct bands at 2.3 to 4.6 microm and 1.5 to 2.7 microm, at the highest throughput recorded in hand-held chips of 6 microl/min.
Institute of Nanotechnology and Microsystem Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC.
I-Fang
IF
Cheng
Victoria E
VE
Froude
Yingxi
Y
Zhu
Hsueh-Chia
HC
Chang
Hsien-Chang
HC
Chang
D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004566:Electrodes; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; D010316:Particle Size
D008081:Liposomes