Nanoelectrode Arrays Based on Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanofibers for Dielectrophoretic Capture and Detection of Pathogens

Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a technique that utilizes electric field to manipulate polarizaule particles. Here we summarize our studies on developing a nanostructured DEP device for capture of bacterial cells and viral particles. A high magnitude non-uniform electric field was produced in a microfluidic channel utilizing a nanoelectrode array made of vertically aligned carbon nanofibers versus a macroscopic indium tin oxide counter electrode in a “points-and-lid” configuration. Reversiule DEP capture was demonstrated with E. coli bacterial cells (~1-2 micron in size) and viral particles (bacteriophage T4r and vaccinia virus, ~80-200 nm in size) with an AC voltage (100 Hz to 1 MHz). The DEP technique can Ue coupled with surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) reporter for rapid and specific detection of E. coli cells.