A Programmable CMOS DEP Chip for Cell Manipulation.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Microfluidics
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• Precise control of cell manipulation is crucial for various biological applications, including drug screening and tissue engineering.
• Existing methods for cell manipulation often lack real-time control and reconfigurability.
• Dielectrophoresis (DEP) offers a label-free method for manipulating biological particles, but its spatial control can be challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a programmable CMOS chip for real-time, spatially controlled dielectrophoresis (DEP) force.
• To enable advanced cell manipulation techniques, including single-cell manipulation and multi-cell patterning.
• To demonstrate the chip's utility in biological applications such as cell preparation and drug screening.

Main Methods:

• A 128x128 array of individually controllable microelectrodes was fabricated using a standard 0.18 μm CMOS process.
• Time-sharing patterns were implemented to enhance manipulation precision and create distinct phase boundaries.
• The chip was operated at 1.8 V, achieving particle manipulation speeds up to 27 μm/s.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated real-time control over the spatial distribution of DEP force for controlled cell movement.
• Achieved precise single-cell manipulation, multi-cell patterning, and concentration control on the same chip.
• Confirmed cell viability post-manipulation and demonstrated stem cell aggregation control.

Conclusions:

• The programmable CMOS DEP chip offers a versatile platform for advanced cell manipulation.
• The chip's reconfigurability and precision address key technical challenges in cell preparation and biological assays.
• This technology holds significant promise for applications in drug screening, tissue engineering, and fundamental biological research.