HANDLING BIOLOGICAL CELLS USING A FLUID INTEGRATED-CIRCUIT

Studies are made on the methods of cell handling using dielectrophoretic (DEP) force in a newly developed device called a “fluid integrated circuit” (FIC), where all cell-handling components are integrated onto one substrate with photolithography techniques. Cell passages and driving electrodes can be fabricated in arbitrary twodimensional shape, allowing great flexibility in its design. Through the analytical study it was found that a careful tailoring of field pattern is essential in realizing cell motions. Methods for detailed field analysis are developed, and based upon the analysis, cell handling components are developed. One is an “FIC cell shift register,” a device in which cells are stored and electrostatically transported one by one, just as bits are shifted in digital-logic shift registers. The other is an “FIC cell deflector,” where the cell fed from the inlet can be dielectrophoretically deflected to either of the bifurcating branch. The devices are fabricated and their functions are experimentally confirmed. It is expected that FIC will be a powerful tool not only for the handling of biological cells, but also in many unit operations involving the individual processing of small particles in suspensions. © 1990 IEEE