Continuous cell sorting and interactive cell handling on channel-less chips using image dielectrophoresis

In this paper we demonstrated a new approach for continuous cell sorting and cell handling using image dielectrophoresis (iDEP). The cells tested in this study included E. coli, yeast and cyanothece. Cell sortings of species and of viability were conducted in continuous fluidic channels. For instance, viable E. coli and viable cyanothece were separated at 20V_pp at 10kHz in water with conductivity of 5.4μS/cm at the flow rate of 5μL/min. Once sorted, the trapped cells were interactively manipulated through images of PC mouse cursor in real time.