A method for dielectrophoresis includes applying an electric field across a micro-fluidic chamber with an alternating current (AC), trapping the target particles on the at least one carrier particle, transporting the target particles from a first location in the chamber to a second location in the chamber distanced from the first location with the at least one carrier particle and dynamically controlling the trapping and the transporting based on remotely applying forces on the at least one carrier particle. The trapping is based on localized gradients of the electric field induced by the carrier particle. The applied electric field is uniform absent a carrier particle present in the micro-fluidic chamber. The micro-fluidic chamber contains an electrolyte-solution with suspended target particles and at least one carrier particle freely floating on or in the electrolyte-solution.

A separation device is a separation device that separates dielectric particles. The separation device includes a flow channel (20), a plurality of three-dimensionally shaped electrodes (31, 32), a power supply (40), and a controller. The flow channel (20) feeds a suspension containing the dielectric particles. The plurality of three-dimensionally shaped electrodes (31, 32) is arranged in the flow channel (20) and extends in a height direction of the flow channel (20). The power supply (40) applies an AC voltage with a predetermined frequency to the plurality of electrodes (31, 32) so as to generate dielectrophoresis of the dielectric particles. The controller controls the power supply.

A microfluidic device may, in an example, include at least one microfluidic channel, a dielectrophoresis separator to separate a plurality of cells passing within the at least one microfluidic channel, and a thermal resistor to eject at least one cell from the microfluidic device. A cassette may, in an example, include a die coupled to a substrate of the cassette, the die including at least one microfluidic channel, a dielectrophoresis separator along the microfluidic channel to separate a plurality of cells passing within the microfluidic channel, and an ejection device to eject at least one of the plurality of cells into an assay well.

Techniques for separating particles of interest from whole blood are disclosed. An example particle separation chip includes a first inlet on the particle separation chip for receiving whole blood and a second inlet on the particle separation chip for receiving a lysis buffer. The particle separation chip also includes a mixer to mix the whole blood with the lysis buffer to provide lysis of red blood cells in the whole blood. The particle separation chip also includes a buffer exchanger to exchange the lysis buffer for a dielectrophoresis buffer to produce a solution that enables dielectrophoretic separation of particles of interest. The particle separation chip also includes a separator coupled to an output of the buffer exchanger to separate the particles of interest from other particles in the solution via dielectrophoretic separation and deliver the particles of interest to an outlet on the particle separation chip.

A dielectrophoresis-based in-droplet cell concentrator is disclosed herein. The concentrator can include a concentration microchannel having an input port and two or more outlet ports. The input port introduces cell-encapsulated droplets or particle-encapsulated droplets into the microchannel; a first outlet port receives droplets including most of the cells or particles and a second output port receives droplets including few cells or particles. The concentrator also can include a pair of electrodes. When voltage is applied, the electrodes will create an electric field across the microchannel. The concentrator adds new capabilities to droplet microfluidics operations, such as adjusting concentrations of cells in droplets, separating cells of different properties from inside droplets, and solution exchange.

The present invention discloses a nanoparticle control and detection system and operating method thereof. The present invention controls and detects the nanoparticles in the same device. The device comprises a first transparent electrode, a photoconductive layer, a spacer which is deposed on the edge of the photoconductive layer and a second transparent electrode. The aforementioned device controls and detects the nanoparticles by applying AC/DC bias and AC/DC light source to the transparent electrode.

Devices, systems, and methods for applying a dielectrophoretic force on a particle include: a cell defining at least one channel for confining the particle; and a first electrode and a second electrode electrically isolated from the first electrode, at least one of the first and second electrodes being formed from a two-dimensional (2D) material providing an atomically sharp edge. The first and second electrodes are arranged sufficiently close to one another and sufficiently close to the channel such that application of a sufficient voltage across the first and second electrodes generates an electric field in at least part of the channel, the electric field having an electric field gradient sufficient to apply the dielectrophoretic force on the particle in the channel.

A system for molecular mapping includes a semiconductor substrate defining a reservoir to receive a sample of molecules and a nanofluidic channel in fluid communication with the reservoir. The system also includes a plurality of electrodes, in electrical communication with the nanofluidic channel, to electrophoretically trap the sample of molecules in the nanofluidic channel. At least one avalanche photodiode is fabricated in the semiconductor substrate and disposed within an optical near-field of the nanofluidic channel to detect fluorescence emission from at least one molecule in the sample of molecules.

Techniques and devices for sorting objects using dielectrophoresis separation. A device can include a non-linear dielectrophoresis separation channel for use in sorting object in a flow of a volume of a liquid solution using dielectrophoresis separation. Techniques can include controlling operation of a device configured to sort objects using dielectrophoresis separation based on characteristics of the sorting of objects by the device using dielectrophoresis separation.

The present invention provides novel microfluidic substrates and methods that are useful for performing biological, chemical and diagnostic assays. The substrates can include a plurality of electrically addressable, channel bearing fluidic modules integrally arranged such that a continuous channel is provided for flow of immiscible fluids.