Large-Scale Single Particle and Cell Trapping based on Rotating Electric Field Induced-Charge Electroosmosis

We propose a simple, inexpensive microfluidic chip for large-scale trapping of single particles and cells based on induced-charge electroosmosis in a rotating electric field (ROT-ICEO). A central floating electrode array, was placed in the center of the gap between four driving electrodes with a quadrature configuration and used to immobilize single particles or cells. Cells were trapped on the electrode array by the interaction between ROT-ICEO flow and buoyancy flow. We experimentally optimized the efficiency of trapping single particles by investigating important parameters like particle or cell density and electric potential. Experimental and numerical results showed good agreement. The operation of the chip was verified by trapping single polystyrene (PS) microspheres with diameters of 5 and 20 μm and single yeast cells. The highest single particle occupancy of 73% was obtained using a floating electrode array with a diameter of 20 μm with an amplitude voltage of 5 V and frequency of 10 kHz for PS microbeads with a 5-μm diameter and density of 800 particles/μL. The ROT-ICEO flow could hold cells against fluid flows with a rate of less than 0.45 μL/min. This novel, simple, robust method to trap single cells has enormous potential in genetic and metabolic engineering

Alternating Current Electrokinetic Properties of Gold-Coated Microspheres

We present dielectrophoresis (DEP) and electrorotation (ROT) measurements of gold-coated polystyrene microspheres as a function of frequency and for several electrolyte conductivities. Particle rotation was counterfield with a maximum rotation rate observed at a single characteristic frequency. Negative DEP was observed for frequencies lower than this characteristic frequency and positive DEP for signal frequencies higher than this. These experimental observations are in agreement with predictions for the force and torque on the induced dipole of a perfectly polarizable metal sphere. We present a theoretical model for this case, and good agreement is found for both ROT and DEP measurements if we take into account the viscous friction for a spherical particle near a wall. From the characteristic frequency for rotation, we obtain the capacitance of the electrical double layer at the electrolyte–particle interface. Remarkably, no effect of induced charge electroosmosis around the particles can be inferred from DEP measurements

Continuously Electrotriggered Core Coalescence of Double-Emulsion Drops for Microreactions

Microfluidically generated double emulsions are promising templates for microreactions, which protect the reaction from external disturbance and enable in vitro analyses with large-scale samples. Controlled combination of their inner droplets in a continuous manner is an essential requirement toward truly applications. Here, we first generate dual-cored double-emulsion drops with different inner encapsulants using a capillary microfluidic device; next, we transfer the emulsion drops into another electrode-integrated polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic device and utilize external AC electric field to continuously trigger the coalescence of inner cores inside these emulsion drops in continuous flow. Hundreds of thousands of monodisperse microreactions with nanoliter-scale reagents can be conducted using this approach. The performance of core coalescence is investigated as a function of flow rate, applied electrical signal, and core conductivity. The coalescence efficiency can reach up to 95%. We demonstrate the utility of this technology for accommodating microreactions by analyzing an enzyme catalyzed reaction and by fabricating cell-laden hydrogel particles. The presented method can be readily used for the controlled triggering of microreactions with high flexibility for a wide range of applications, especially for continuous chemical or cell assays

A Simplified Microfluidic Device for Particle Separation with Two Consecutive Steps: Induced Charge Electro-osmotic Prefocusing and Dielectrophoretic Separation

Continuous dielectrophoretic separation is recognized as a powerful technique for a large number of applications including early stage cancer diagnosis, water quality analysis, and stem-cell-based therapy. Generally, the prefocusing of a particle mixture into a stream is an essential process to ensure all particles are subjected to the same electric field geometry in the separation region. However, accomplishing this focusing process either requires hydrodynamic squeezing, which requires an encumbering peripheral system and a complicated operation to drive and control the fluid motion, or depends on dielectrophoretic forces, which are highly sensitive to the dielectric characterization of particles. An alternative focusing technique, induced charge electro-osmosis (ICEO), has been demonstrated to be effective in focusing an incoming mixture into a particle stream as well as nonselective regarding the particles of interest. Encouraged by these aspects, we propose a hybrid method for microparticle separation based on a delicate combination of ICEO focusing and dielectrophoretic deflection. This method involves two steps: focusing the mixture into a thin particle stream via ICEO vortex flow and separating the particles of differing dielectic properties through dielectrophoresis. To demonstrate the feasibility of the method proposed, we designed and fabricated a microfluidic chip and separated a mixture consisting of yeast cells and silica particles with an efficiency exceeding 96%. This method has good potential for flexible integration into other microfluidic chips in the future