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Numerical Study on Separation of Circulating Tumor Cell Using Dielectrophoresis in a Four-Electrode Microfluidic Device

基于四电极微流控装置使用介电泳分离循环肿瘤细胞的数值研究

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Abstract

This numerical study proposes a cell sorting technique based on dielectrophoresis (DEP) in a microfluidic chip. Under the joint effect of DEP and fluid drag, white blood cells and circulating tumor cells are separated because of different dielectric properties. First, the mathematical models of device geometry, single cell, DEP force, electric field, and flow field are established to simulate the cell motion. Based on the simulation model, important boundary parameters are discussed to optimize the cell sorting ability of the device. A proper matching relationship between voltage and flow rate is then provided. The inlet and outlet conditions are also investigated to control the particle motion in the flow field. The significance of this study is to verify the cell separating ability of the microfluidic chip, and to provide a logistic design for the separation of rare diseased cells.

摘要

这项数值研究提出了一种基于微流控芯片的介电泳细胞分选技术. 在介电泳力和流体阻力的共同作用下, 白细胞和循环肿瘤细胞因介电特性不同而分离. 本文首先针对器件几何、 单细胞、 介电泳力、 电场和流场建立了数学模型, 模拟了细胞运动. 进而基于仿真模型, 对重要边界参数进行了讨论, 以优化该装置的细胞分选能力, 并同时提供了边界电压和流体流速之间的适当匹配关系. 此外, 还探究了流场出入口条件, 以控制其中的粒子运动. 本研究的意义在于验证了该微流控芯片的细胞分选能力, 为罕见病变细胞的分离提供了逻辑设计.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China

    Yukun Wang  (王雨坤) & Zhinan Zhang  (张执南)

  2. Institute for Personalized Medicine, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China

    Xianting Ding  (丁显廷)

Authors
  1. Yukun Wang  (王雨坤)
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  2. Xianting Ding  (丁显廷)
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  3. Zhinan Zhang  (张执南)
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Correspondence to Zhinan Zhang  (张执南).

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Foundation item: the Base for Interdisciplinary Innovative Talent Training Project

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Wang, Y., Ding, X. & Zhang, Z. Numerical Study on Separation of Circulating Tumor Cell Using Dielectrophoresis in a Four-Electrode Microfluidic Device. J. Shanghai Jiaotong Univ. (Sci.) 28, 391–400 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12204-022-2459-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12204-022-2459-9

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