1 research outputs found
OpenDEP: An Open-Source Platform for Dielectrophoresis Spectra Acquisition and Analysis
Dielectrophoretic (DEP) cell separation, which utilizes
electric
fields to selectively manipulate and separate cells based on their
electrical properties, has emerged as a cutting-edge label-free technique.
DEP separation techniques rely on differences in the electrical and
morphological properties of cells, which can be obtained by a thorough
analysis of DEP spectra. This article presents a novel platform, named
OpenDEP, for acquiring and processing DEP spectra of suspended cells.
The platform consists of lab-on-a-chip and open-source software that
enables the determination of DEP spectra and electric parameters.
The performance of OpenDEP was validated by comparing the results
obtained using this platform with the results obtained using a commercially
available device, 3DEP from DEPtech. The lab-on-a-chip design features
two indium tin oxide-coated slides with a specific geometry, forming
a chamber where cells are exposed to an inhomogeneous alternating
electric field with different frequencies, and microscopic images
of cell distributions are acquired. A custom-built software written
in the Python programing language was developed to convert the acquired
images into DEP spectra, allowing for the estimation of membrane and
cytoplasm conductivities and permittivities. The platform was validated
using two cell lines, DC3F and NIH 3T3. The OpenDEP platform offers
several advantages, including easy manufacturing, statistically robust
computations due to large cell population analysis, and a closed environment
for sterile work. Furthermore, continuous observation using any microscope
allows for integration with other techniques