Manipulation and trapping of sub-micron bioparticles using dielectrophoresis

A non-uniform alternating electric field induces motion in polarisable particles called dielectrophoresis. The effect is governed by the relative magnitudes of the dielectric properties of the medium and the particles. The technology has been used to manipulate particles for biotechnological applications, including purification, fractionation and concentration of cells and microorganisms. However, the lower size limit for the dielectrophoretic manipulation of particles was believed to be about 1 micron, but recent work has proved otherwise. The dielectrophoretic movement and properties of latex beads and a simple rod-shaped virus, tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), have been measured using microfabricated electrode structures. Measurements have been made over a range of suspending medium conductivities, applied frequencies and electric field strengths. It is shown that under appropriate conditions both latex beads and tobacco mosaic virus particles can be selectively attracted to regions of high electric field strength located at the tips of microfabricated electrode structures. The ability to selectively trap and separate bio-particles has many potential applications in the area of biotechnology.