Rational microfluidic design for dielectrophoresis-based multitarget separation of blood cells and circulating tumor cells

A rapid, sensitive, and low-damage method for isolating circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is crucial for cancer research. This study, based on dielectrophoresis (DEP) and finite element modeling, investigates multitarget cell separation from blood on microfluidic chips. The effects of electrode shape, dielectric conductivity, and flow rate on cell movement and separation efficiency were analyzed. The results showed optimal separation with a 90° electrode angle, 1.5 V applied voltage, and a 1:3 inlet flow rate ratio. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing DEP-based microfluidic devices to improve multitarget cell separation efficiency and purity.