Use of dielectrophoretic collection spectra for characterizing differences between normal and cancerous cells

An automated analysis system for the rapid measurement of dielectrophoretic collection spectra of mammalian cells is described. Cells are injected onto an electrode configuration having regions with different electric field gradients, and cell movement to or from these regions is determined by computerized image analysis as a function of the applied electric field frequency. Data are presented to show that cultured murine erythroleukemia cells undergo a significant alteration in their dielectrophoretic collection spectrum following treatment with hexamethylene bisacetamide or dimethylsulfoxide, agents that induce terminal differentiation in these otherwise malignant cells. These changes appear to arise from characteristic alterations in membrane capacitance and conductance as the cells differentiate