Characterization of neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell lines using dielectrophoresis

Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a frequency-selective translation of polarized particles under the spatially nonuniform electric field. Particles can move toward the high-field region by positive DEP (pDEP) or away from high-field region by negative DEP (nDEP). This method is label-free, fast and noninvasive characterizing the electrical properties of neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell lines. This cell line has been used as an in vitro cell model for the study of Parkinson’s disease or neuronal function and differentiation. We constructed a microdevice that consists of two parts: the interdigitated ITO electrodes to generate AC electric field and a Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with two wells to inject the cells and the media. Then the measured DEP frequency spectra fitted using the spherical shell model to compute electrical properties of the cells.