Flow-through devices for the ac electrokinetic construction of microstructured materials

With the aid of computer simulation, flow-through devices have been devised for the continuous construction of microstructured materials using non-uniform ac electric fields. Particles can be concentrated and guided along channels defined by non-uniform electric fields generated between microelectrodes. The resulting streams of particles emanating from the microelectrode structures can subsequently be immobilized to form materials with particles embedded in defined locations. Experiments with latex beads with a diameter of 6 mu m, suspended in high purity low-melting agarose at a concentration of 0.75% and temperatures over 60 degrees C, showed that a linear stream of particles can be created by the combined application of negative dielectrophoresis and hydrodynamic flow forces. By guiding the stream of particles onto a conveyor, it was then possible to create a continuous film of agarose containing latex beads in defined positions. Potential applications of the method in the creation of biomaterials such as tissues and biofilms are discussed.