cellPhoresis: A Dielectrophoresis Based Technique for Rapid, Nondestructive Cell Separation and Analysis.

: Analysis and identification of live cells is necessary in many fields; water quality, cell therapy, drug development, clinical diagnostics, biofuels, and brewing are a few examples. Existing methods alter or destroy the cells during analysis, take too long (2-3 days), or require labeling and/or specific markers. We present a microfluidics and electrokinetics based technique, cellPhoresis, that does not destroy the cells, does not require labeling or specific markers, and takes under 30 min to go from sample loading to results. Cells are captured and concentrated at discrete locations along a microfluidic channel, and quantified by light microscopy. Other quantification methods such as impedance or Raman spectroscopy can also be implemented. Subtle phenotype differences were identified in bacteria and mammalian cells in various applications.