Authors:
Lizhi Cao, Zhengchun Peng, Wilbur Lam, & Thomas H. Barker
Summary:
In this paper we describe a combined magnetophoresis (MAP) and dielectrophoresis (DEP) based platform for high throughput characterization of specific biomolecular interactions. The magnetic manipulation enables parallel loading of individual magnetic beads onto a magnetic pad array, while the combination of tightly controlled opposing magnetic and dielectrophoretic (DEP) forces is employed to produce characteristic out-of-plane (z-axial) bead displacement. We optimized design parameters to evenly load 2.8 μm biomolecule functionalized paramagnetic beads onto magnetic pads, and demonstrate the ability of our tweezers to discriminate between specific antibody-antigen bond from non-specific bond formed between bead and pad surface.
Source:
Technology; Vol. 2, Issue 1 (03/2014)