CPC G01N 33/4836 (2013.01) [B01L 3/502761 (2013.01); G01N 15/1031 (2013.01); G01N 15/1463 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0663 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0645 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0424 (2013.01); B03C 5/005 (2013.01); B03C 5/026 (2013.01); B03C 2201/26 (2013.01); G01N 2015/0084 (2013.01); G01N 2015/1006 (2013.01); G01N 2015/1495 (2013.01)] | 12 Claims |
1. A method of measuring membrane stiffness, comprising:
a) trapping a plurality of cells, cell membranes comprising cellular components, or cell components in microelectrodes of a system, comprising i) a microelectrode chip comprising at least two parallel microelectrodes arranged in a triangular tip orientation, wherein said microelectrodes are configured to deliver a varying electric field generated by dielectrophoresis to said cells, cell membranes comprising cellular components, or cell components; ii) a power supply; and iii) a visualization means;
b) applying said varying electric field generated by dielectrophesis to said trapped cells to deform said cells; and
c) measuring deformation of said cells, cell membranes comprising cellular components, or cell components in said electric field by measuring deformation of said cells, cell membranes comprising cellular components, or cell components along an axis of maximum extension and normalizing the deformation to an original length, wherein the magnitude of deformation of said cells, cell membranes comprising cellular components, or cell components is proportional to stiffness of said cells, cell membranes comprising cellular components, or cell components.
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12. A method of measuring platelet stiffness, comprising:
a) trapping a plurality of platelets in microelectrodes of a system, comprising i) a microelectrode chip comprising at least two parallel microelectrodes arranged in a triangular tip orientation, wherein said microelectrodes are configured to deliver a varying electric field generated by dielectrophoresis to said platelets without activating said platelets; ii) a power supply; and iii) a visualization means;
b) applying said varying electric field generated by dielectrophesis to said trapped platelets to deform said cells; and
c) measuring deformation of said platelets, in said electric field by measuring deformation of said platelets along an axis of maximum extension and normalizing the deformation to an original length, wherein the magnitude of deformation of said platelets proportional to stiffness of said platelets.
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