The potential of dielectrophoresis for single-cell experiments

Author

Müller, Torsten ; Pfennig, Annette ; Klein, Petra ; Gradl, Gabriele ; Jäger, Magnus ; Schnelle, Thomas

Author_Institution

Evotec Technol., Humboldt Univ. of Berlin, Germany

Volume

22

Issue

6

fYear

2003

Firstpage

51

Lastpage

61

Abstract

In this article, a microfluidic system was developed for sorting and high-content analysis of single cells using dielectrophoresis. It makes high-resolution imaging of suspended cells feasible immediately before depositing them into a microtiter plate. The microfluidic devices contain three-dimensional arrangements of radio-frequency driven electrodes and are used to gently manipulate suspended cells in flow. Viability of sorted and deposited cells is comparable to a control group. The influence of RF electric fields is studied using (a) calcium flux measurements and membrane potential dependent fluorescence dye on suspended human cells and (b) cultivation of yeast trapped for several days in dielectric field cages driven at field strengths up to 100 kV/m and 7 MHz.

Keywords

bioelectric potentials; biological techniques; bioluminescence; biomembrane transport; calcium; cell motility; dyes; electric field effects; electrochemical electrodes; electrophoresis; fluorescence; microfluidics; microorganisms; Ca; RF electric field effects; calcium flux measurements; cell flow; cell sorting; dielectrophoresis; high-content single cell analysis; high-resolution imaging; membrane potential dependent fluorescence dye; microfluidic system; microtiter plate; radio-frequency driven electrodes; single-cell experiments; suspended cells; yeast cultivation; Biomembranes; Calcium; Dielectric measurements; Dielectrophoresis; Electric variables measurement; Electrodes; High-resolution imaging; Microfluidics; Radio frequency; Sorting;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0739-5175

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/MEMB.2003.1266047

Filename

1266047