Dielectrophoresis-based cell manipulation using electrodes on a reusable printed circuit board

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Microfluidics
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a powerful technique for manipulating biological particles in lab-on-chip systems.
• Existing DEP methods can be expensive and complex, limiting widespread adoption.
• There is a need for more affordable and accessible DEP platforms for cell patterning and tissue engineering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cost-effective and reusable platform for dielectrophoresis (DEP) particle manipulation.
• To demonstrate the ability to manipulate and position HeLa cells and polystyrene particles using DEP.
• To validate the platform's suitability for lab-on-chip prototyping and tissue engineering applications.

Main Methods:

• Utilized interdigitated electrodes on a printed circuit board (PCB) as the DEP manipulation platform.
• Employed reusable PDMS microfluidic channels (open-well or closed) placed over a glass coverslip on the PCB.
• Applied AC voltage to the PCB electrodes to induce DEP through the glass coverslip for particle manipulation.

Main Results:

• Successfully manipulated and positioned HeLa cells and polystyrene particles using the PCB-based DEP platform.
• Demonstrated the feasibility of DEP manipulation through a 100-micrometer thick glass coverslip.
• Cultured patterned HeLa cells confirmed no adverse effects from the applied electric fields.

Conclusions:

• The developed PCB-based DEP platform offers a convenient, rapid, and reusable method for particle manipulation.
• This approach significantly reduces costs, making DEP more accessible for lab-on-chip prototyping and various applications.
• The platform holds promise for cost-sensitive lab-on-chip systems and diverse tissue engineering applications.