Dielectrophoretic forces and potentials induced on pairs of cells in an electric field

A combined numerical/experimental study is reported of the membrane potentials and dielectrophoretically induced forces between cells, membrane pressures, and velocity of attraction of cells under the influence of an electric field. This study was designed to explore electrical and mechanical effects produced by a field on cells in close proximity or undergoing electrically induced fusion. Laplace's equation for pairs of membrane-covered spheres in close proximity was solved numerically by the boundary element method, and the electrically induced forces on the cells and between cells were obtained by evaluating the Maxwell stress tensor. The velocity of approach of erythrocyte ghosts or fused ghosts in a 60-Hz field of 6 V/mm was measured experimentally, and the data were interpreted by using Batchelor's theory for hydrodynamic interaction of hard spheres. The numerical results show clearly the origin of the dielectrophoretic pressures and forces in fused and unfused cells and the effects of a nearby cell on the induced membrane potentials. The experimental results agree well with predictions based on the simple electrical model of the cell. The analysis shows the strong effect of hydrodynamic interactions between the cells in determining their velocity of approach.