Enhanced Dielectrophoretic Cell Sorting Using Curved Microelectrode Arrays in the Microfluidic System

This study presents a novel microfluidic system that combines dielectrophoresis (DEP)-based cell sorting with single-cell electroporation, enhancing efficiency and precision in intracellular delivery. By utilizing curved microelectrode arrays, the system optimizes DEP-based cell separation and electroporation while preserving high cell viability. Unlike conventional designs, the curved electrodes create a smooth electric field gradient, reducing chaotic cell motion and minimizing electroporation-induced damage. The system's effectiveness was demonstrated with MCF-7 breast cancer cells and red blood cells (RBCs), achieving a 94.83% RBC separation efficiency at 5 kHz and 1.85 V. These results confirm the system's potential for high-purity cancer cell isolation and offer a scalable, precise solution for cancer research, targeted drug delivery, and precision medicine.