Is Dielectrophoretic Movement through Micro Channel with Asymmetric Surface Electrodes Fabricated by Photolithography Technique Effective to Sort Flowing Cell?

A flow channel with surface electrode has been designed to detect dielectrophoretic movement of floating myoblast. In the micro flow-channel, a pair of asymmetric surface electrodes of titanium coating (thickness of 200 nm) were fabricated by photolithography technique: the triangular electrode with the tip angle of 0.35 rad, and the rectangular electrode of the flat edge as the reference. The cyclic alternating square wave of the electric current was applied between the electrodes. The suspension of C2C12 (mouse myoblast cell line) was injected into the channel, and the shifted movement of each flowing cell was measured at the microscopic movie image. Experimental results of the pilot test show that the absolute value of the amplitude of the acceleration by the electric field, which is perpendicular to the flow direction, increases with the radius of each cell. The shifted movement of 70 mμ is realized at the adjusted electric parameters: the frequency of 3 MHz, and the amplitude of electric current of ± 7.5mA.