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Multistep manipulations of poly(methyl‐methacrylate) submicron particles using dielectrophoresis
Author(s) -
Chuang ChengHsin,
Huang YaoWei
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
electrophoresis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.666
H-Index - 158
eISSN - 1522-2683
pISSN - 0173-0835
DOI - 10.1002/elps.201300258
Subject(s) - dielectrophoresis , electrode , materials science , indium tin oxide , nanoparticle , nanotechnology , electrode array , microfluidics , optoelectronics , trapping , chip , chemistry , layer (electronics) , computer science , ecology , biology , telecommunications
A microfluidic chip for multistep manipulations of PMMA submicron particles ( PMMA ‐ SMP s) based on dielectrophoresis ( DEP ) has been developed that includes four main functions of focusing, guiding, trapping, and releasing the SMP s. The structure of the DEP chip consists of a top electrode made of indium tin oxide, a flow chamber formed by optically clear adhesive tape and bottom electrodes with different patterns for different purposes. The bottom electrodes can be divided into three parts: a fish‐bone‐type electrode array that provides the positive DEP force for focusing the suspended nanoparticles ( NP s) near the inlet in the flow chamber; the second is for switching and guiding the focused NP s along the electrode surface to the target area, like a flow passing along a virtual channel; and a trapping electrode in the downstream for trapping and releasing the guided NP s. According to the simulation and experimental results, NP s can be aligned along the electrode of the focusing electrode and guided toward the target electrode by means of a positive DEP force between the top and bottom electrodes, with the effects of Brownian motion and Stokes force. In order to demonstrate the sequence of DEP manipulations, a PMMA ‐ NP suspension is introduced to the DEP chip; the size of the PMMA ‐ SMP s is about 300 nm. Furthermore, a LabVIEW program developed for sequence control of the AC signals for the multistep manipulations. Consequently, the DEP chip provides an excellent platform technology for the multistep manipulation of SMP s.