Cell properties assessment using optimized dielectrophoresis-based cell stretching and lumped mechanical modeling

Abstract

Cells mechanical property assessment has been a promising label-free method for cell differentiation. Several methods have been proposed for single-cell mechanical properties analysis. Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is one method used for single-cell mechanical property assessment, cell separation, and sorting. DEP method has overcome weaknesses of other techniques, including compatibility with microfluidics, high throughput assessment, and high accuracy. However, due to the lack of a general and explicit model for this method, it has not been known as an ideal cell mechanical property evaluation method. Here we present an explicit model using the most general electromagnetic equation (Maxwell Stress Tensor) for single-cell mechanical evaluation based on the DEP method. For proof of concept, we used the proposed model for differentiation between three different types of cells, namely erythrocytes, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and an epithelial breast cancer cells line (T-47D). The results show that, by a lumped parameter that depends on cells' mechanical and electrical properties, the proposed model can successfully distinguish between the mentioned cell types that can be in a single blood sample. The proposed model would open up the chance to use a mechanical assessment method for cell searching in parallel with other methods.

Image-based cell sorting using focused travelling surface acoustic waves

“…The authors proposed that this parameter can be used in a high throughput system to distinguish between different cell types, but this has not yet been demonstrated. 20 Other active approaches have been developed to increase the sorting rate, but they showed sorting mostly on a heterogeneous mixture of cells 8,19 or beads 75 with distinct mechanical properties. Recently, using a SSAW actuator we demonstrated deformation-based sorting of RBCs.…”

“…This has led to the development of novel methods combining microscopy and microfluidics, which perform spatial and temporal analysis of several cell physical and chemical properties with high throughput and sensitivity. Among such methods are Raman scattering, 16 quantitative phase imaging, 17,18 impedance- and dielectrophoresis-based analyses, 19,20 Brillouin microscopy, 21 suspended micro-channel resonators, 22 deformability cytometry (DC), 23 quantitative DC 24 and real-time deformability cytometry (RT-DC). 25,26 The further integration of microactuators enabled the sorting of single cells based on the selection and combination of specific parameters, today frequently performed by the use of artificial intelligence (AI).…”

Label-free purification and characterization of optogenetically engineered cells using optically-induced dielectrophoresis

“…As indicated by eqn (4), in the same liquid medium, the crossover frequency of a cell is determined by its permittivity and conductivity, which both have complex relationships with the cell radius. 46,47 Therefore, it can be inferred that HEK293-ChR2 cells and HEK293 cells with different radii may have distinctive crossover frequencies, indicating the possibility for separation.…”

Controlled Transport of Individual Microparticles Using Dielectrophoresis

“…However, such capabilities can be highly desirable for bioengineering applications. 36 The current work proposes a design that addresses the unique requirements of propulsion and lateral confinement required for single particle transport.…”

“…As such, on-chip single particle transport has received less attention in the literature ,, than single particle trapping. ,, While a few excellent works have reported manipulation capabilities with single particle resolution, they do not focus on controlled linear transport of individual particles using purely DEP forces. However, such capabilities can be highly desirable for bioengineering applications . The current work proposes a design that addresses the unique requirements of propulsion and lateral confinement required for single particle transport.…”