Manipulation of biological objects in micromachined structures

Several methods for the manipulation of biological objects are developed using micromachined structures. The electrostatic effects under high-frequency field, such as dielectrophoresis, electrostatic orientation and electrorotation, are used for the actuation of the objects, by which (1) cell handling, separation, and their fusion, (2) stretching of DNA molecules and their fixation onto substrate, (3) manipulation of protein molecules, and (4) fabrication of membrane structures, etc. are realized. A high-intensity field, in excess of 10 kV/cm, is required for the manipulation of molecules to overcome thermal randomization, which is obtained only with microfabricated electrode gaps.<
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