title: Horizontal nDEP cages within open microwell arrays for precise positioning of cells and particles.
abstract: We present the structure of an open microwell, i.e. a microwell open at both the top and bottom ends, which enables single-cells to be handled, processed and recovered after the experiment. The microwell has a novel architecture which allows particles to be trapped and forced to interact by means of a cylindrical negative dielectrophoretic cage. Particles are aligned along a horizontal axis where the electric field minimum is placed. Arrays of open microwells are fabricated using flexible printed circuit board (PCB) technology providing cheap and disposable devices. Levitation and precise positioning of both polystyrene beads and K562 cells were experimented, confirming the results of physical simulations. Assessment of cell viability after 20 min exposure to the electric field was performed through a standard calcein-release assay.
authors.affiliation: ARCES, University of Bologna, Viale Pepoli 3/2, Bologna, Italy. marta.lombardini@unibo.it
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lombardini
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bocchi
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rambelli
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giulianelli
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guerrieri
mesh_terms: D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008846:Micromanipulation / Q000295:instrumentation; D008904:Miniaturization
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers