Printed Dielectrophoretic Electrode‐Based Continuous Flow Microfluidic Systems for Particles 3D‐Trapping

Abstract

Inkjet‐printing is used to fabricate dielectrophoretic electrodes able to trap polystyrene (PS) microparticles as well as model planktonic cells. The possibility of rapid prototyping offered by inkjet‐printing allows the rational design of microchannels with tailored electric field distributions experienced by the suspended particles, which in turn provides a handle to drive them towards target regions. Specifically, this goal is achieved using two facing substrates constituting the bottom and the top walls of the channel, with a pair of interdigitated electrodes previously patterned by inkjet‐printing on each side. Influence of electrode polarization (magnitude and frequency of the input signal) is investigated both theoretically, by modeling the electric field distribution inside the channel, and experimentally using confocal fluorescence microscopy. The printed device is able to sort circulating PS particles as a function of their size, with diameters ranging from 0.5 to 5 µm, as well as to separate planktonic species according to their composition (Alexandrium minutum versus Prorocentrum micans). This work paves the way for the development of large‐area, microstructured dielectrophoretic electrodes able to separate the constituents of samples at flow rates up to 150 µL mn−1.

Challenges, Prospects, and Emerging Applications of Inkjet‐Printed Electronics: A Chemist's Point of View

“…Consequently, the analysis flow rates remain low (a few μL min −1 ). Inkjet printing makes it possible to design electrode patterns on surfaces of the order of a cm 2 [184] . The combination of these large‐sized printed electrodes with simple microfluidics allowing a channel height of a few μm to be maintained directly leads to an increase in analysis throughput by several orders of magnitude.…”

Challenges, Prospects, and Emerging Applications of Inkjet‐Printed Electronics: A Chemist's Point of View

“…Inkjet printing makes it possible to design electrode patterns on surfaces of the order of a cm 2 . [184] The combination of these large-sized printed electrodes with simple microfluidics allowing a channel height of a few μm to be maintained directly leads to an increase in analysis throughput by several orders of magnitude. Nevertheless, even if the overall dimensions of the device can be increased on request, the control of the layout of the printed materials must be effective on scales determined by the property concerned.…”

Numerical Simulation of a Lab-on-Chip for Dielectrophoretic Separation of Circulating Tumor Cells

“…In this study, a simple planar microchannel is selected due to the ease of fabrication and modeling. Planar microstructures can be created relatively easily through photolithography and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) molding processes [ 53 ], etching [ 54 , 55 , 56 ], or thick-film screen-printing [ 21 , 57 , 58 ]. Additionally, planar designs are easier to model as they can be simulated in two dimensions.…”