ENGINEERING
Dielectrophoresis (DEP) in Microfluidics
Dielectrophoresis (DEP) moves cells and particles using a non-uniform electric field — sorting them by their electrical properties rather than tags. It is a precise, label-free tool in the microfluidic toolbox. Here is how it works.
What is dielectrophoresis?
DEP is the force on a polarisable particle in a non-uniform electric field. Depending on the particle's properties and the field frequency, it is pulled toward strong-field regions (positive DEP) or pushed away (negative DEP) — so different cells respond differently and can be separated or trapped.
How it is implemented on chip
Microelectrodes patterned in the channel create the field gradients. Because cell membranes and contents differ, DEP can distinguish live from dead cells, cell types, or cancer cells from blood cells, without any labels.
Strengths and limits
- Label-free and selective — sorts by intrinsic electrical properties.
- Precise — good for trapping and positioning single cells.
- Limits — needs electrodes and control electronics, and is sensitive to the medium's conductivity.
How it compares
DEP sits alongside other label-free sorting methods — acoustofluidics (sound), inertial (flow) and magnetophoresis (magnetic) — each best for different particle properties.
Frequently asked questions
What is dielectrophoresis (DEP)?
The force on a polarisable particle in a non-uniform electric field, used in microfluidics to trap, sort or characterise cells by their electrical properties without labels.
What is the difference between positive and negative DEP?
In positive DEP a particle is drawn toward high-field regions; in negative DEP it is pushed toward low-field regions. Which occurs depends on the particle, medium and field frequency.
What is DEP used for in microfluidics?
Label-free cell sorting and trapping — for example separating live from dead cells or cancer cells from blood, and positioning single cells.
Sort by electrical signature
Building a DEP device?
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