Separation of dendritic and T cells using electrowetting and dielectrophoresis

Abstract

The research of immune cells is fundamental to many biological studies. Dendritic cells have the ability to induce a primary immune response in resting naive T cells. The aim of this work is to separate the activated T cells from dendritic cells on a digital microfluidic device where droplets are driven by electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD). The cells suspended in EWOD-driven droplets are separated and concentrated using a high frequency electric signal which generates non-uniform electric fields and dielectrophoresis (DEP) forces exerting on dendritic cells and T cells. Separation and concentration of dendritic cells and T cells are demonstrated in a droplet using EWOD and DEP.