Selective Trapping and Enrichment of Particles Reversing the Elution Order in Insulator Based Dielectrophoresis

Insulator-based dielectrophoresis ( iDEP) is a commonly used microfluidic technique for  studies of enrichment and separation of samples with biological cells. Additionally, iDEP lab-on-a-chip systems have been demonstrated to be highly useful in areas where rapid results are favorable, such as food/water safety, and clinical diagnostics. In the past, these systems have operated by eluting from the system small particles first.  In the case of biological samples where large particles are targeted, a system in which these larger cells can be eluted first is, consequently reducing the amount of time they are exposed to the possible negative effects of iDEP, is needed. The present study focuses on an reversed elution  order technique, in which particles from largest to smallest in tertiary mixtures will be enriched, selected, and separated into different outlets, seeking to minimize the time to which the various fragile biological cells are exposed to negative dielectrophoretic effects.