Development of a hybrid DEP-SAW device for trapping/sensing target cells

For detecting cells by Surface Acoustic Wave sensors, a sacrificial layer with antigens is usually used to trap cells. This paper introduces a new idea where Dielectrophoresis force traps target cells instead of a sacrificial layer that reacts with target cells and sensed by the surface acoustic wave. Therefore, one can use the sensors more than once, and it is possible to trap different types of cells with different dielectric properties. The device is simulated, and the main parameters of a Dielectrophoresis trapping system and Surface Acoustic Wave sensor, have been introduced and optimized. The effects of focused and unfocused electrode are studied numerically on the displacement of the sensor. Eventually, the feasibility of using the hybrid sensor to trap and detect target cells is investigated experimentally. Experimental results show that the Dielectrophoresis-Surface Acoustic Wave sensor can trap and detect the White Blood Cells, RPMI and U87.