Dependence of Shape and Geometry of Microelectrodes in Manipulating Polarizable Particles like DNA through Electro-kinetic Effects

Abstract

Recently electro-kinetics, namely AC electro-osmosis and dielectrophoresis have been judiciously utilised to manipulate movement of polarisable particles like DNA suspended in aqueous solution and placed between electrically fed microelectrodes. Researchers around the globe have tried to fabricate electrodes of different geometries to understand how electric field owing to sharpness of the electrodes has influenced the aforementioned electrokinetic properties. Presented a chronological development in design of patterned electrodes used to align and trap DNA molecules in and around the electrodes. We have examined the pros and the cons of such geometry of the set of the micro-electrodes and also tried to provide a solution in terms of shape and sharpness of the electrode that would facilitate DNA molecules to bridge between the electrodes for further application of conducting DNA as molecular wire.

DNA dielectrophoresis: Theory and applications a review

“…Various biomolecules were manipulated with dielectrophoresis; they were ranging from nanometer‐sized proteins over tens to few hundred nanometer‐sized DNA molecules or DNA origami to micrometer‐sized prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells as thoroughly reviewed in . The previous reviews about dielectrophoresis and dielectrophoretic applications were focused to specific topics, for example, a focus on insulator‐based dielectrophoresis of cells, biomolecules, and colloidal particles as in ; a review of dielectrophoretic separation of cells and biomolecules as in ; summarizing applications of dielectrophoresis as in ; a survey of the dielectric and dielectrophoretic properties of DNA from a theoretical point of view as given in ; or a review about the impact of electrode shape on DNA dielectrophoresis as in . Our review is distinct from the previous reviews as we solely focus on DNA dielectrophoresis, presenting the theory important in dielectrophoretic applications and a review of DNA dielectrophoresis applications presented so far with a discussion of the current challenges and future tasks.…”