Dielectrophoresis: Effect of Nonuniform Electrical Fields on Cell Movement

Abstract

Dielectrophoresis, or translational movement of neutral matter due to the action of a nonuniform electrical field, has been applied intensively to the study of biological particles and colloidal dispersions. Dielectrophoresis can provide details of the cell or particle surface charge and dielectrical properties. The dielectrophoretic technique may also be used in practical applications, such as particle separation and levitation, as well as the dielectrical characterization of irregularly shaped solids. This chapter focuses on the biotechnological applications of dielectrophoresis such as cell separation and cell characterization. Currently, the two most interesting aspects of dielectrophoresis are its applications to electrofusion and to the analysis of cell orientation. Both these phenomena have been analyzed using microorganisms (particularly yeasts), because of the reproducibility of their growth characteristics and the homogeneity of their cell populations.