Transport, Manipulation, and Reaction of Biological Cells On-Chip Using Electrokinetic Effects

TLDR

A glass‑chip microfluidic system uses electroosmotic/electrophoretic pumping to move whole cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, canine erythrocytes, Escherichia coli) through capillary channels and demonstrates on‑chip mixing of erythrocytes with sodium dodecyl sulfate to trigger lysis. The system achieves cell selection and transport at ~0.5 mm/s in 15 × 55 µm capillaries and demonstrates on‑chip mixing of canine erythrocytes with SDS to induce cell lysis.

Abstract

A microfluidic system was fabricated on a glass chip to study mobilization of biological cells on-chip. Electroosmotic and/or electrophoretic pumping were used to drive the cell transport within a network of capillary channels. Whole cells such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, canine erythrocyte, and Escherichia coli were employed in this work. Photographs are presented to illustrate how cells are selected and transported from one location to another within the capillary network, with velocities up to about 0.5 mm/s in capillaries with a 15- × 55-μm cross section. The mixing of canine erythrocytes with the lysing agent sodium dodecyl sulfate, at an intersection within the chip, was performed to demonstrate that cell selection and subsequent reaction can be accomplished within the microchip.