Modelling of bioparticle separation in the dielectrophoresis microfluidic using the Brinkman flow

Abstract

In this study, we numerically investigate the dynamics of bioparticle separation in the dielectrophoretic microfluidic device. The straight section of the microchannel consists of a pair of semicircular electrodes on its up and down walls. The different electric potentials are applied to electric electrodes. In the present study, the electric field distribution is obtained by solving the Laplace equation using the boundary element method. After that, we compute the particle trajectory by solving the Brinkman differential equation by applying the boundary element method. In order to compare the numerical results obtained from the boundary element method, we calculate the trajectory of bioparticles using Newton equation in the presence of dielectrophoresis force. Based on the control parameters, the different sorting regimes have been obtained as a function of particle size, applied electric potential, and electrode shape. We have found a good agreement between two numerical methods. Numerical results indicate that for electric voltage ratio of up electrode to down electrode, Φ u /Φ d , smaller than 8.0, platelets flow through the down outlet. We also found that the circulating tumor cells are trapped in the microfluidic channel when the electric potential ratio larger than the 3.8.