A micromachined DEP cell filtration device

Perfusion culturing of mammalian cells is both a cost effective and efficient method for maintaining high density cultures for the production of important therapeutic proteins. Continuous operation of such cultures requires the presence of a cell separation device capable of retaining viable cells while allowing dead cells to be removed from the reactor. This paper examines the development of a micromachined dielectrophoresis (DEP) cell separator, capable of providing such selectivity, when operating in highly conductive growth media. The design of the filter was guided by DEP levitation measurements on individual C174 myeloma cells in suspension. The DEP filter is capable of selective viable cell retention over the frequency range 5 to 15 MHz, A maximum separation efficiency of 98% achieved at 10 MHz and a flow rate of 30 mL/h.