In vitro dielectrophoresis of HEK cell migration for stimulating chronic wound epithelialization

Abstract

This article describes a dielectrophoresis (DEP)‐based simulation and experimental study of human epidermal keratinocyte (HEK) cells for wounded skin cell migration toward rapid epithelialization. MyDEP is a standalone software designed specifically to study dielectric particles and cell response to an alternating current (AC) electric field. This method demonstrated that negative dielectrophoresis (NDEP) occurs in HEK cells at a wide frequency range in highly conductive medium. The finite element method was used to characterize particle trajectory based on DEP and drag force. The performance of the system was assessed using HEK cells in a highly conductive EpiLife suspending medium. The DEP experiment was performed by applying sinusoidal wave AC potential at the peak‐to‐peak voltage of 10 V in a tapered aluminum microelectrode array from 100 kHz to 1 MHz. We experimentally observed the occurrence of NDEP, which attracted HEK cells toward the local electric field minima in the region of interest. The DIPP‐MotionV software was used to track cell migration in the prerecorded video via an automatic marker and estimate the average speed and acceleration of the cells. The results showed that HEK cell migration was accomplished approximately at 6.43 μm/s at 100 kHz with 10 V, and FDEP caused the cells to migrate and align at the target position, which resulted in faster wound closures because of the application of an electric field frequency to HEK cells in random locations.

A dielectrophoresis proof of concept of polystyrene particles and in‐vitro human epidermal keratinocytes migration for wound rejuvenation

“…This is a follow‐up to the previous work. According to the experimental findings, cell migration is faster at 100 kHz at 10 V PP , achieving approximately 6.43 μm/s 40 . In addition to the earlier work of this article, we validated the numerical data compatible with the DEP manipulated numerous PS particles 3.2, 4.8, 10, 15 μm, and HEKs in terms of particle mobility.…”

“…In this study, the tapered aluminium microelectrode array (TAMA) geometry is used. A two‐dimensional model of the simplified TAMA geometry that was used in the FEM analysis 39,40 . The commercial FEM package was used to execute this numerical model COMSOL Multiphysics 5.6, http://www.comsol.com made available in November 11, 2020 (COMSOL Inc., Burlington, MA, USA).…”

“…A two-dimensional model of the simplified TAMA geometry that was used in the FEM analysis. 39,40 The commercial FEM package was used to execute this numerical model COMSOL Multiphysics 5.6, www.comsol.com made available in November 11, 2020 (COMSOL Inc., Burlington, MA, USA). The dielectric properties of the particle/cell are initially incorporated into the model.…”

A correlation of conductivity medium and bioparticle viability on dielectrophoresis‐based biomedical applications

“…ε 0 indicates the vacuum permittivity, $${\varepsilon _m}$$ is the medium relative permittivity around the sphere, $${r_{ext}}$$ indicates the particle radius of the cells, $${E_{rms}}$$ is the applied electric field root mean square, and the Clausius–Mossotti factor ($${f_{CM}}$$) of the cells denotes their polarization to the surrounding medium. The $${f_{CM}}$$ is equivalent to the in‐phase attribute of the particle's electrical polarization and is related to the spatial nonuniformity, including its electric field [45]: $$$$\begin{equation}{f_{CM}} = \frac{{\varepsilon _p^* - {\rm{\;}}\varepsilon _m^*}}{{\varepsilon _p^* + 2\varepsilon _m^*{\rm{\;}}}}\end{equation}$$$$…”

“…𝜀 0 indicates the vacuum permittivity, 𝜀 𝑚 is the medium relative permittivity around the sphere, 𝑟 𝑒𝑥𝑡 indicates the particle radius of the cells, 𝐸 𝑟𝑚𝑠 is the applied electric field root mean square, and the Clausius-Mossotti factor (𝑓 𝐶𝑀 ) of the cells denotes their polarization to the surrounding medium. The 𝑓 𝐶𝑀 is equivalent to the in-phase attribute of the particle's electrical polarization and is related to the spatial nonuniformity, including its electric field [45]:…”