Size separation of DNA molecules by pulsed electric field dielectrophoresis

In this paper we propose an electrode design and a switching pattern of the applied DC electrode potentials for a microfluidic device to be used in size separation of DNA molecules. Estimates on the separation resolution, which are based on numerical solutions of a Newton-type equation on time-averaged quantities, are presented for an input batch sample of DNA fragments with sizes up to 220 base pairs (bp). The active area of the device (which can be microfabricated by standard photolitographic techniques) is a channel 6 µm wide, 8 µm deep and 150 µm in length, flanked by 23 plane parallel integrated electrodes, individually addressed with low DC voltages, up to ± 25 V. In the active area a time-dependent non-uniform electric field, or a travelling dielectrophoretic wave (TDW) is being produced. In order to enhance the separation resolution, the polarization DC potentials are switched with a relatively high frequency (≈ 10−7 s), which is chosen accordingly with the buffer conductivity and dielectric constants of the fluid and particles. Since the external field is of DC type, we put forward an explanatory model of the dielectric response of the DNA to the time-dependent applied field. We then numerically investigate the size-dependent response of the DNA in a low conductivity buffer (≈0.01 Ω−1 m−1) under the influence of the electric field, which is calculated by means of the method of moments. The results of the computer modelling indicate the existence of a threshold value for the size of the successfully transported molecules, which can be adjusted by varying the velocity of the dielectrophoretic wave produced by the system. The estimated error in selecting a chosen group of molecules with sizes above a specified value is about 5 bp, while the processing times are of the order of hundred of seconds.