DIELECTROPHORETIC PRESSING OF BIOLOGICAL CELLS INTO CONTACT WITH SURFACES: A MECHANISM FOR BIOPHYSICAL FLOW CYTOMETRY

The surface morphology and mechanical properties of a biological cell provide insight into its physiological state. The interaction between a dielectrophoretically actuated cell and the wall of a microfluidic channel is monitored using an electrical approach. Pressure-driven cells generate position-dependent capacitance signatures as they flow past interdigitated coplanar electrodes. Distinct capacitance signatures are observed when cells are driven into contact with channel walls using dielectrophoretic actuation. Simulations of the equation of motion are used to estimate the experimental trajectories. Since different cell phenotypes exhibit different surface properties, their respective cell-wall interactions may form a basis for their differentiation.