Reconfigurable Prototyping Microfluidic Platform for DEP Manipulation and Capacitive Sensing

Abstract

In this paper, we present a new rapid prototyping platform dedicated to dielectrophoretic microfluidic manipulation and capacitive cell sensing. The proposed platform offers a reconfigurable design including 4 independently programmable output channels to be distributed across 64 electrodes. Although its range of frequency covers up to 3.4 MHz, signal amplitude accuracy ( +/-10%) was demonstrated for frequencies up to 1 MHz and channel-to-channel phase shift setting was stable up to 1.5 MHz. A test of maximum resistive load showed a 10% attenuation of a 12 V peak-to-peak signal with a 22 Ω load. The platform has an advanced capacitive sensor to measure capacitance variation between in-channel electrodes with a sampling frequency up to 5 kH z. Experimental data of capacitive sensor showed a sensitivity of 100 fF. The sensor can be extended to 4 parallel measurements with lower frequency. We also present a new assembly technique for reusable microfluidic chip based on anisotropic adhesive conductive film, epoxy and PDMS. The proposed platform provides a wide range of control signals depending on the type of manipulation as sine, rectangular or square wave. The frequency range is extendible up to 3.4 MHz, in addition to a programmable phase shift circuit with a minimum phase step of 3.6(°) for each signal.

Lab-on-Chip Microsystems for Ex Vivo Network of Neurons Studies: A Review

“…In this respect, the microfluidic chip is a promising platform for cell manipulation and long-term continuous monitoring due to its biocompatibility, design, and low cost. Various microfluidic chips have been designed to manipulate cells in the past 10 years ( Sen et al, 2013 ; Chu et al, 2015 ; Miled et al, 2015 ; Zhao et al, 2020 ).…”

Progress of Microfluidic Continuous Separation Techniques for Micro-/Nanoscale Bioparticles

“…Since biological subjects, such as cells, have dielectric constants, the DEP can be used to manipulate, transport, separate, and sort different types of bioparticles, which is based on differentiation of dielectric and conducting properties of the particles [ 160 , 161 , 162 , 163 , 164 , 165 , 166 , 167 , 168 , 169 ]. For example, Figure 5 B(i) shows a general scheme for an AC-DEP microfluidic device for continuous cell characterization and separation.…”