Transport of particles and microorganisms in microfluidic channels using rectified ac electro-osmotic flow

Wen-I Wu; P Ravi Selvaganapathy; Chan Y Ching

doi:10.1063/1.3553011

Transport of particles and microorganisms in microfluidic channels using rectified ac electro-osmotic flow

Biomicrofluidics. 2011 Mar 30;5(1):13407. doi: 10.1063/1.3553011.

Authors

Wen-I Wu¹, P Ravi Selvaganapathy, Chan Y Ching

Affiliation

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, McMaster University, Ontario L8S 4L7, Canada.

Abstract

A new method is demonstrated to transport particles, cells, and other microorganisms using rectified ac electro-osmotic flows in open microchannels. The rectified flow is obtained by synchronous zeta potential modulation with the driving potential in the microchannel. Experiments were conducted to transport both neutral, charged particles, and microorganisms of various sizes. A maximum speed of 50 μm∕s was obtained for 8 μm polystyrene beads, without any electrolysis, using a symmetrical square waveform driving electric field of 5 V∕mm at 10 Hz and a 360 V gate potential with its polarity synchronized with the driving potential (phase lag=0°).