Using the 3DEP system we are able to determine distinct electric field conditions to apply in commercially available Cytorecovery system that uses high voltages contactless dielectrophoresis to seperate and sort cells. Our research will focus on seperating healthy and damaged cells due to a myriad of drug treatments and conditions to induce oxidative stress in blood cells.
One of our research projects investigates electrical variations in whole blood samples cycled through extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circulatory support systems to predict blood clotting and ECMO failure will be presented.
This novel research assesses the DEP response of cancer cells exposed to P8A1, a highly cytotoxic platinum-acridine (PA) cancer drug. initial experiments elucidate changes in electrophysiology in P8A1 treatment. Our initial dose response results saw an increase in membrane conductance and cytoplasmic conductivity after 3 hours of 100nM treatment, indicating DEP’s ability to functionally monitor drug uptake (0-6 hours post treatment) prior to cell death that occurs after 6 hours of drug exposure.