Three-dimensional rotation of deformable cells at a bipolar electrode array using a rotating electric field

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Cell Biology
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• Three-dimensional rotation of cells is crucial for various applications in biology, medicine, and chemistry.
• Existing methods for cell manipulation lack precision and flexibility in controlling 3D orientation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a versatile and controllable method for 3D rotation of cells and particles.
• To demonstrate the application of this method for cell orientation, immobilization, and dielectric property analysis.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a rotating electric field applied to a bipolar electrode (BPE) array.
• Leveraging electrorotation torque, induced charge electroosmosis (ICEO) flow, and dielectrophoresis for precise control.
• Analyzing rotation spectra for in-plane rotation to extract cellular dielectric properties.

Main Results:

• Successfully demonstrated controllable 3D rotation of various cell types, including yeast and K562 cells.
• Achieved precise control over cell orientation, rotation axis, speed, and direction.
• ICEO-based out-of-plane rotation enabled vertical plane rotation irrespective of cell shape and size.
• Demonstrated the potential for high-throughput, non-destructive cell analysis and drug discovery.

Conclusions:

• The developed method offers a flexible, contactless, and precise approach for 3D cell rotation.
• This technique facilitates controllable cell orientation and immobilization for downstream applications.
• The study provides a rapid and non-destructive tool for cell analysis and drug discovery.