Bridging the scales in high-throughput dielectrophoretic (bio-)particle separation in porous media.

ABSTRACT: Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a versatile technique for the solution of difficult (bio-)particle separation tasks based on size and material. Particle motion by DEP requires a highly inhomogeneous electric field. Thus, the throughput of classical DEP devices is limited by restrictions on the channel size to achieve large enough gradients. Here, we investigate dielectrophoretic filtration, in which channel size and separation performance are decoupled because particles are trapped at induced field maxima in a porous separation matrix. By simulating microfluidic model porous media, we derive design rules for DEP filters and verify them using model particles (polystyrene) and biological cells (S. cerevisiae, yeast). Further, we bridge the throughput gap by separating yeast in an alumina sponge a

SUBMITTER: Pesch GR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6041321 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature