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Limitations of the Clausius‐Mossotti function used in dielectrophoresis and electrical impedance studies of biomacromolecules
Author(s) -
Pethig Ronald
Publication year - 2019
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.201900057
Subject(s) - dielectrophoresis , electrostatics , macromolecule , nanotechnology , function (biology) , dipole , chemical physics , chemistry , biophysics , materials science , biological system , biology , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , microfluidics , organic chemistry
Dielectrophoresis (DEP) studies have progressed from the microscopic scale of cells and bacteria, through the mesoscale of virions to the molecular scale of DNA and proteins. The Clausius‐Mossotti function, based on macroscopic electrostatics, is invariably employed in the analyses of all these studies. The limitations of this practice are explored, with the conclusion that it should be abandoned for the DEP study of proteins and modified for native DNA. For macromolecular samples in general, a DEP theory that incorporates molecular‐scale interactions and the influence of permanent dipoles is more appropriate. Experimental ways to test these conclusions are proposed.