This work investigated the electrokinetic focusing and dispensing of polystyrene particles and red blood cells on microfluidic chips. Particles or cells were first electrokinetically focused using the merging of focusing streams on the sample stream, and subsequently separated as a result of the focusing. These particles or cells were then selectively dispensed from the focused sample stream using precise application of electrical pulses. The whole process of focusing, separation and dispensing of particles was visualized by a custom-made microscopy system. In particular, the width of the focused fluorescein stream and the accelerated electrophoretic motion of particles and cells were measured in a cross-channel and compared with a proposed analytical model. The electrokinetic manipulation of particles and cells demonstrated in this work can be used for developing integrated lab-on-a-chip devices for studies of cells.

Volume Subject Area:
Microelectromechanical Systems
Topics:
Electrokinetics, Microfluidics, Particulate matter, Erythrocytes, Microscopy, Separation (Technology)
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