Optoelectrical microfluidics as a promising tool in biology

Avanish Mishra; Jae-Sung Kwon; Raviraj Thakur; Steve Wereley

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2014.06.002

Optoelectrical microfluidics as a promising tool in biology

Trends Biotechnol. 2014 Aug;32(8):414-21. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2014.06.002. Epub 2014 Jul 3.

Authors

Avanish Mishra¹, Jae-Sung Kwon¹, Raviraj Thakur¹, Steve Wereley²

Affiliations

¹ Birck Nanotechnology Center, School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
² Birck Nanotechnology Center, School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. Electronic address: wereley@purdue.edu.

PMID: 24998518
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2014.06.002

Abstract

Noncontact robotic particle grippers with trapping, manipulation, and release functions are highly desired in cell biology and microfluidics. Optoelectric techniques combine optical and electrokinetic effects to create thousands of such individually addressable traps. By projecting reconfigurable light patterns, these techniques can concentrate molecules, as well as manipulate, sort, and electroporate cells in a programmable manner. We describe the underlying physical mechanisms and discuss applications in biology and future prospects of these devices.

Keywords: cell manipulation; electrokinetics; microfluidics; optical tweezers; optofluidics; patterning.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Biomedical Research
Cell Separation
Cells, Cultured
Electrochemical Techniques*
Electroporation
Humans
Mice
Microfluidic Analytical Techniques*
Optical Tweezers
Optics and Photonics*
Photochemistry
Swine