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Cell properties assessment using optimized dielectrophoresis-based cell stretching and lumped mechanical modeling
Imman I Hosseini1, Mahdi Moghimi Zand2, Amir Ali Ebadi3
1Small Medical Devices, BioMEMS & LoC Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Postal Code 14399-55961, Tehran, Iran.
Scientific Reports
|January 28, 2021
Summary
A new model using dielectrophoresis (DEP) and Maxwell Stress Tensor accurately assesses cell mechanical properties for differentiation. This method successfully distinguishes between erythrocytes, PBMCs, and cancer cells, offering a label-free approach for cell analysis.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Electromagnetism
Background:
- Label-free cell mechanical property assessment is crucial for cell differentiation.
- Dielectrophoresis (DEP) offers high throughput and accuracy for single-cell analysis but lacks a general model.
- Existing methods have limitations in comprehensive mechanical property evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an explicit and general model for single-cell mechanical evaluation using DEP.
- To utilize the Maxwell Stress Tensor for enhanced cell property analysis.
- To demonstrate the model's efficacy in differentiating various human cell types.
Main Methods:
- Developed an explicit model based on the Maxwell Stress Tensor for DEP-based cell mechanical evaluation.
- Applied the model to differentiate between erythrocytes, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and T-47D cancer cells.
- Utilized a lumped parameter dependent on cell mechanical and electrical properties for differentiation.
Main Results:
- The proposed model successfully differentiated between erythrocytes, PBMCs, and T-47D cells.
- The lumped parameter effectively captured the distinct mechanical and electrical properties of the tested cell types.
- Demonstrated the potential for distinguishing cells within a single blood sample.
Conclusions:
- The developed explicit model provides a robust framework for label-free cell mechanical property assessment via DEP.
- This approach enhances cell differentiation capabilities, particularly for complex biological samples.
- The model opens avenues for integrating mechanical assessment with other cell analysis techniques.
