Modeling of Dielectrophoresis for Handling Bioparticles in Microdevices

Dielectrophoresis can be used to trap and position bioparticles such as biological cells efficiently and successfully in BioMEMS devices. This paper presents a computational model to simulate this process. In particular, the model will solve for electric potential distribution, bioparticle movement in a Lagrangian frame, Joule heating, and medium flow due to electrothermal effects. As an illustration, the model was used to simulate a cell trapping process in a three-dimensional chamber.