Continuous separation of viable cells by travelling wave dielectrophoresis

In this contribution we present a label-free continuous separation device for suspended-grown biological cells based on travelling wave dielectrophoresis (twDEP). Suspended-grown cells could otherwise only be separated by flow-cytometry which requires elaborate labelling steps. The biochip consists of a structured PDMS layer on glass in which the channels have been defined. Parallel electrodes positioned along the microfluidic channel were used to expose selected cells to a twDEP force perpendicular to a pressure driven flow. With this device we have successfully separated suspended-grown viable Jurkat (T-cell leukaemia) cells from a mix also containing non-viable cells and L. casei bacteria.