Investigation of human malignant cells by electrorotation

Dielectrophoresis (DEP), traveling wave dielectrophoresis (TWD) and electrorotation (ROT) are established electro-kinetic methods that can be usefully applied for the selective and controlled manipulation, isolation, concentration, separation and characterization of electrically polarizable particles, such as intact cells. Using a custom integrated fluidic microchip, capable of DEP, TWD and ROT measurements, the differences in the frequency dependent dielectric properties of malignant cells obtained from peripheral blood (PB) of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) were investigated. Utilizing these electro-kinetic phenomena will facilitate simultaneous isolation and characterization of different cell populations of PB from patients. Furthermore, the ability to detect and identify malignant cells based on their unique and precise dielectric properties will enable rapid and cost effective detection of impending relapse and/or progression of the disease in addition to the monitoring of response to therapy.