Linear motion of dielectric particles and living cells in microfabricated structures induced by traveling electric fields

Arrangements of microelectrodes as obtained by a microfabrication technique are found to be well suited for a linear transfer of microscopic particles such as biological cells and other objects of microscopic dimensions. The conditions for an effective manipulation of the particles are electrode geometries which correspond to the dimensions of the particle and adapted electrical excitation of the electrodes (traveling high-frequency waves). The motion of particles was found to be a super-position of dielectrophoresis and charge relaxation processes as they are dominant, e.g. in dielectric induction motors. Microparticle velocities of some hundreds μ/s could be achieved by applying phase-shifted rectangular pulses with amplitudes between 5 and 15 volts