nDEP microwells for single-cell patterning in physiological media

Abstract

We present a novel technique to accurately position single cells on a substrate using negative dielectrophoresis and cell–substrate adhesion. The cells are suspended in physiological media throughout the patterning process. We also verify the biocompatibility of this method by demonstrating that the patterned cells proliferate and show normal morphology. We calculate the temperatures and transmembrane potential that cells in the device experience and compare them to physiologically acceptable levels described in previous studies.