title: Dielectrophoresis assisted loading and unloading of microwells for impedance spectroscopy.
abstract: Dielectric spectroscopy (DS) is a noninvasive, label-free, fast, and promising technique for measuring dielectric properties of biological cells in real time. We demonstrate a microchip that consists of electro-activated microwell arrays for positive dielectrophoresis assisted cell capture, DS measurements, and negative dielectrophoresis driven cell unloading; thus, providing a high-throughput cell analysis platform. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first microfluidic chip that combines electro-activated microwells and DS to analyze biological cells. Device performance is tested using Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) cells. DEP response of yeast cells is determined by measuring their Clausius-Mossotti factor using biophysical models in parallel plate microelectrode geometry. This information is used to determine the excitation frequency to load and unload wells. Effect of yeast cells on the measured impedance spectrum was examined both experimentally and numerically. Good match between the numerical and experimental results establishes the potential use of the microchip device for extracting subcellular properties of biological cells in a rapid and nonexpensive manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mansoorifar
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koklu
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Ahmet C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Sabuncu
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beskok
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D058266:Dielectric Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D046209:Electrophoresis, Microchip / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D006046:Gold; D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; D008839:Microelectrodes; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D006046:Gold
keywords: Dielectric spectroscopy; Dielectrophoresis; Electro-activated microwells