title: High-k Dielectric Passivation: Novel Considerations Enabling Cell Specific Lysis Induced by Electric Fields.
abstract: A better understanding of the electrodynamic behavior of cells interacting with electric fields would allow for novel scientific insights and would lead to the next generation of cell manipulation, diagnostics, and treatment. Here, we introduce a promising electrode design by using metal oxide high-k dielectric passivation. The thermally generated dielectric passivation layer enables efficient electric field coupling to the fluid sample comprising cells while simultaneously decoupling the electrode ohmically from the electrolyte, allowing for better control and adjustability of electric field effects due to reduced electrochemical reactions at the electrode surface. This approach demonstrates cell-size specific lysis with electric fields in a microfluidic flow-through design resulting in 99.8% blood cell lysis at 6 s exposure without affecting the viability of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial spike-ins. The advantages of this new approach can support next-generation investigations of electrodynamics in biological systems and their exploitation for cell manipulation in multiple fields of medicine, life science, and industry.
authors.affiliation: Health & Environment Department, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology , Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Klemens J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Wassermann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Chemistry, Vienna University of Technology , Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sensor and Actuator Systems, Vienna University of Technology , Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Keplinger
authors.affiliation: Health & Environment Department, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology , Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Christa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Noehammer
authors.affiliation: Health & Environment Department, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology , Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Johannes R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Peham
mesh_terms: D016923:Cell Death; D004560:Electricity; D004566:Electrodes; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria; D044085:Microfluidics
keywords: cell lysis; cell specific; electric fields; infection diagnosis; sample preparation