A Simplified Fabrication Method of Dielectrophoresis Chip Using Au Thin-Film and Box Cutter

Abstract

We propose fabrication method of a planar quadrupole microelectrode for dielectrophoresis (DEP), which is fabricated by Au thin-film, ion coater and box cutter. This method is more cost effective and simpler than previous existing methods. We conducted two experiments for confirming usefulness of the Au DEP chip. Those are separation of yeast cells and trap force of DEP. To separate yeast cells, we used viable and non-viable cells. DEP force arises when an inhomogeneous AC electric field and sine wave frequency were applied to microelectrode. The Au DEP chip is able to distinguish between viable and non-viable cells and separate them by frequency dependence and the flow with Syringe pump. The chip can obtain viable cells which were trapped without contact to the microelectrode. The viable cells can use for fusion or cell culture. Furthermore, we carried out another experiment to investigate the trap force. The trap force of Negative-DEP becomes gradually weak when the frequency increases with 0.1, 0.5 and 1MHz. We were able to confirm relation between trap force and frequency by the Au DEP chip. The trap force has frequency dependence. Through the two experiments, we have established usefulness of the Au DEP chip.

Femtosecond Fiber Laser Applying for Cell Fusion

“…Two thin gold microelectrodes are coated on the glass by an ion coater and connected to an AC source that has adjustable voltage and frequency. Because viable and dead cells show differently frequency-dependent characteristics in the DEP chip, they can be easily distinguished by using positive and negative DEP modes [14]. In the positive DEP mode, the pearl chain of two or multiple cells is formed at the region of strong electric field; and cell-cell contact pressure can be effectively controlled by adjusting the applied voltage.…”