Model-based feedback control of a microfluidic electroporation system

Abstract

This paper describes new model-based feedback control method used for a single-cell microfluidic electroporation (EP) system. For this purpose, a new four-state nonlinear model has been developed to describe dynamics of a micro-channel electroporation system. EP measured current response is then used to verify the efficiency of the proposed new EP model. Consequently, two feedback control methods, namely, proportional-integral-derivative controller and model predictive controller have been applied to regulate the key states (i.e. transmembrane voltage (Vm) and nano-electropore radius (r)) in the EP model. Numerical simulations of static and dynamic responses of the two critical states, Vm and r, show that feedback control can improve the cell viability and EP efficiency compared to the open-loop system. In the experimental phase, a fabricated micro-EP chip with integrated Coulter counter is used to define the cell-size-dependent parameters of the EP model and electroporation of HeLa cells. In this phase, the EP model is also inserted into LabView software's environment to estimate the value of transmembrane voltage during the experiment. Variation of the external applied voltage derived from experimental result was in good adaptation with its equivalent theoretical values.