Two-frequency dielectrophoresis analysis of viable/non-viable single CHO cells employing a microwave cytometer

We present a microfluidic device for measuring the dielectrophoresis (DEP) response of single Chinese hamster ovary cells while in flow. The device measures the sign and amplitude of the DEP induced translation of single cells at two frequencies by sensing the change in impedance at microwave frequency as the cell passes over a multi-electrode transmission line sensor array. The sensor enables the rapid label-free measurement of the dielectric response of each individual cell in a large population of cells. In this paper we present and compare the two-frequency DEP response of viable and non-viable Chinese hamster ovary cells and relate this to their dielectric parameters.