The electric slide: dielectrophoresis for high precision cell patterning

Arrays of precisely positioned cells have many potential applications in biotechnology and basic cell biology. We have created arrays of single cells using dielectrophoresis (DEP), the force on polarizable bodies in a non-uniform electric field. Charge buildup across the plasma membrane was minimized by the application of voltages with high frequency and low amplitude. Cells cultured under these conditions were similar in gross morphology and growth rate to tissue culture controls. With DEP-based trapping, we have patterned multiple cell layers and multiple types of cells on chemically uniform substrates. We have also used DEP patterning to position cells on surfaces patterned with cell-adhesive areas surrounded by non-adhesive regions. This dual approach allowed us to organize cells in patterns that were different from the adhesive pattern. Using cells patterned by DEP, we investigated the effects of heterotypic, cell-cell interactions and cell packing on proliferation and other cellular processes. In the future, DEP will facilitate the construction of cell-based biosensors, functional nerve chips, and large cellular arrays for high throughput screening.