Particle trapping in electrically driven insulator-based microfluidics: Dielectrophoresis and induced-charge electrokinetics

Abstract

Electrokinetically driven insulator-based microfluidic devices represent an attractive option to manipulate particle suspensions. These devices can filtrate, concentrate, separate, or characterize micro and nanoparticles of interest. Two decades ago, inspired by electrode-based dielectrophoresis, the concept of insulator-based dielectrophoresis (iDEP) was born. In these microfluidic devices, insulating structures (i.e., posts, membranes, obstacles, or constrictions) built within the channel are used to deform the spatial distribution of an externally generated electric field. As a result, particles suspended in solution experience dielectrophoresis (DEP). Since then, it has been assumed that DEP is responsible for particle trapping in these devices, regardless of the type of voltage being applied to generate the electric field—direct current (DC) or alternating current. Recent findings challenge this assumption by demonstrating particle trapping and even particle flow reversal in devices that prevent DEP from occurring (i.e., unobstructed long straight channels stimulated with a DC voltage and featuring a uniform electric field). The theory introduced to explain those unexpected observations was then applied to conventional “DC-iDEP” devices, demonstrating better prediction accuracy than that achieved with the conventional DEP-centered theory. This contribution summarizes contributions made during the last two decades, comparing both theories to explain particle trapping and highlighting challenges to address in the near future.