Efficient Yeast Cell Collection and Manipulation Based on Dielectrophoresis-Integrated Digital Microfluidics

Dielectrophoresis, distinguished by its label-free operation, rapid response, and precision, has emerged as a promising technique for noninvasive cell manipulation. However, its limited liquid handling capacity remains a significant obstacle to broader application. In this paper, we present a digital microfluidic system integrated with dielectrophoresis, addressing the dual requirements of particle manipulation and liquid handling. The proposed system facilitates stable droplet movement and splitting, exhibiting outstanding performance in droplet operation. The system's particle manipulation capability was validated using yeast cells. The behavior of yeast cells within the proposed system was analyzed through simulations and theoretical modeling. A voltage of just 10 Vpp is adequate to achieve a collection rate exceeding 90%, as assessed through image recognition analysis. This low-voltage, label-free process effectively preserves the viability of yeast cells. Additionally, the impacts of various types, frequencies, and amplitudes of the dielectrophoretic signal on the particle collection rate were investigated to identify the optimal operating conditions. The proposed method achieved the integration of DEP and DMF, providing an optimized solution for on-chip biological sample processing.