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Bacterial inactivation via microfluidic electroporation device with insulating micropillars
Sanam Pudasaini1, A T K Perera2, Sum Huan Ng3
1School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Electrophoresis
|March 5, 2021
Summary
Rhombus micropillars in microfluidic electroporation devices enhance electric fields for superior bacteria inactivation compared to circular designs. DC electric fields also yield higher inactivation rates for Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Microfluidics
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Electroporation is a key method for cell inactivation with broad applications.
- Microfluidic devices offer precise control for electroporation applications.
- Electric field enhancement is crucial for efficient cell inactivation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the bacteria inactivation efficiency of microfluidic electroporation devices with rhombus and circular micropillars.
- To investigate the impact of micropillar geometry on electric field enhancement.
- To evaluate the effects of electric field type (DC vs. AC) and flow rate on inactivation performance.
Main Methods:
- Experimental characterization of log removal efficiency for Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis.
- Fabrication and testing of two microfluidic electroporation devices with distinct micropillar geometries (rhombus and circular).
- Numerical simulations to analyze electric field distribution and enhancement factors.
Main Results:
- The microfluidic device with rhombus micropillars demonstrated significantly higher bacteria inactivation (log removal efficiency) for both E. coli and E. faecalis compared to the circular micropillar device.
- Numerical simulations revealed higher maximum electric field enhancement in the rhombus micropillar device due to corner-induced singularity effects.
- Direct Current (DC) electric fields resulted in greater log removal efficiencies than Alternating Current (AC) fields.
Conclusions:
- Microfluidic device design, specifically micropillar geometry, critically influences electroporation efficiency.
- Rhombus micropillars provide superior electric field enhancement, leading to improved bacteria inactivation.
- DC electric fields are more effective than AC fields for bacteria inactivation via electroporation in these microfluidic systems.
