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Controllable cell manipulation in a microfluidic pipette-tip design using capacitive coupling of electric fields
Terje Wimberger1, Johannes R Peham2, Eva-Kathrin Ehmoser3
1Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Department for Health & Bioresources, Vienna, Austria. Terje.wimberger@ait.ac.at Klemens.wassermann@ait.ac.at and University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department for Nanobiotechnology, Vienna, Austria.
Lab on a Chip
|November 1, 2019
Summary
High-k electrode passivation in pipette tips improves cell manipulation using electric fields. This method enhances electroporation efficiency and reproducibility for life science applications.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Electrical Engineering
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Electrode-electrolyte interface energy dissipation challenges electric field-based cell manipulation.
- High-k electrode passivation offers a promising solution for efficient capacitive coupling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To implement and validate high-k electrode passivation in a reusable pipette tip for cell manipulation.
- To assess the impact of this technology on electroporation efficiency and reproducibility.
Main Methods:
- Development of a reusable pipette tip with a 10 μl chamber volume featuring high-k electrode passivation.
- Prototype validation through comparison with gold-coated electrodes.
- Analysis of HEK-293 cell lysis dependency on electric field strength, frequency, and conductivity.
Main Results:
- Consistent and controllable biological effects observed, significantly increasing lysis event reproducibility.
- Over 80% of cells reversibly electroporated with minimal electrical lysis across various field settings.
- Precise characterization of cell lysis dependency on electrical parameters.
Conclusions:
- High-k electrode passivation in pipette tips enhances capacitive coupling for improved cell electroporation.
- This technology advances the understanding of fundamental electroporation mechanics and increases experimental reproducibility.
