Abstract
Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a phenomenon of induced particle motion in non-uniform electric fields. The effect is frequency dependent; by monitoring the motion of particles in AC fields and analyzing the change in motion with frequency, it is possible to determine the electrical properties of single cells in lab-on-a-chip systems. By combining two common electrokinetic phenomena dielectrophoresis and electrohydrodynamic fluid flow - we demonstrate that it is possible to manipulate, concentrate and trap particles from cell to molecular scale, and show how the trapping phenomenon is not related to particle size. We also discuss application of the phenomenon, from particle preconcentration in sensor systems to the deposition of particles on sensor surfaces.