PubMed Health⌕ Search

PubMed · 15841502

Numerical comparison between Maxwell stress method and equivalent multipole approach for calculation of the dielectrophoretic force in single-cell traps.

Abstract

This paper presents detailed numerical calculations of the dielectrophoretic force in traps designed for single-cell trapping. A trap with eight planar electrodes is studied for spherical and ellipsoidal particles using the boundary element method (BEM). Multipolar approximations of orders one to three are compared with the full Maxwell stress tensor (MST) calculation of the electrical force on spherical particles. Ellipsoidal particles are also studied, but in their case only the dipolar approximation is available for comparison with the MST solution. The results show that a small number of multipolar terms need to be considered in order to obtain accurate results for spheres, even in the proximity of the electrodes, and that the full MST calculation is only required in the study of non-spherical particles.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Carlos Rosales, Kian Meng Lim. 2005. Numerical comparison between Maxwell stress method and equivalent multipole approach for calculation of the dielectrophoretic force in single-cell traps.. https://doi.org/10.1002/elps.200410298

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

Insights into cytoskeletal behavior from computational modeling of dynamic microtubules in a cell-like environment.

Microtubule dynamic instability plays a fundamental role in cell biology, enabling microtubules to find and interact with randomly distributed cargo and spatially localized signals. In vitro, microtubules transition between growth and shrinkage symmetrically, consistent with the theoretical understanding of the mechanism of dynamic instability. In vivo, however, microtubules commonly exhibit asymmetric dynamic instability, growing persistently in the cell interior and experiencing catastrophe near the cell edge. What is the origin of this behavior difference? One answer is that the cell edge causes the asymmetry by inducing catastrophe in persistently growing microtubules. However, the origin of the persistent growth itself is unclear. Using a simplified coarse-grained stochastic simulation of a system of dynamic microtubules, we provide evidence that persistent growth is a predictable property of a system of nucleated, dynamic, microtubules containing sufficient tubulin in a confined space--MAP activity is not required. Persistent growth occurs because cell-edge-induced catastrophe increases the concentration of free tubulin at steady-state. Our simulations indicate that other aspects of MT dynamics thought to require temporal or spatial changes in MAP activity are also predictable, perhaps unavoidable, outcomes of the "systems nature" of the cellular microtubule cytoskeleton. These include the mitotic increase in microtubule dynamics and the observation that defects in nucleation cause changes in the behavior of microtubule plus ends. These predictions are directly relevant to understanding of the microtubule cytoskeleton, but they are also attractive from an evolutionary standpoint because they provide evidence that apparently complex cellular behaviors can originate from simple interactions without a requirement for intricate regulatory machinery.

Cell Shape↗

Cytotoxicity of polyethyleneimine (PEI), precursor base layer of polyelectrolyte multilayer films.

Polyethyleneimine (PEI) is a synthetic polymer commonly used as precursor base layer in polyelectrolyte multilayer films. However, the biological properties of this cationic macromolecule are poorly understood. The aim of this experimental investigation was to evaluate in vitro the biocompatibility of PEI towards two different human cell lines. The experimental investigation was undertaken on pure titanium (Ti) and nickel-titanium (NiTi) alloy samples with an average surface roughness of Ra=0.3microm. A biological study was undertaken at day 0 (2h after seeding), day 2, day 4 and day 7 to observe the cellular response of fibroblasts and osteoblasts cell lines in terms of morphology, adhesion (as observed by scanning electron microscopy), and viability (Mosmann's test). The results showed that PEI can be successfully deposited onto Ti or NiTi alloy, but generates a detrimental cellular response on both substrates as illustrated by a decrease of both fibroblast and osteoblast adhesion and proliferation over a 7-day culture period. These results suggest that PEI is potentially cytotoxic and may not be biocompatible enough in clinical applications using high molecular weight. As a consequence, polyelectrolyte multilayer films, which are promising in prosthesis and implantology fields, could not be coated with PEI at a high molecular weight. A lower molecular weight should be considered or a more biocompatible molecular base as precursor layer of polyelectrolyte multilayer films would be better to use for a good human bio-integration.

Cell Shape↗

Noncore components of the fission yeast gamma-tubulin complex.

Relatively little is known about the in vivo function of individual components of the eukaryotic gamma-tubulin complex (gamma-TuC). We identified three genes, gfh1+, mod21+, and mod22+, in a screen for fission yeast mutants affecting microtubule organization. gfh1+ is a previously characterized gamma-TuC protein weakly similar to human gamma-TuC subunit GCP4, whereas mod21+ is novel and shows weak similarity to human gamma-TuC subunit GCP5. We show that mod21p is a bona fide gamma-TuC protein and that, like gfh1Delta mutants, mod21Delta mutants are viable. We find that gfh1Delta and mod21Delta mutants have qualitatively normal microtubule nucleation from all types of microtubule-organizing centers (MTOCs) in vivo but quantitatively reduced nucleation from interphase MTOCs, and this is exacerbated by mutations in mod22+. Simultaneous deletion of gfh1p, mod21p, and alp16p, a third nonessential gamma-TuC protein, does not lead to additive defects, suggesting that all three proteins contribute to a single function. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments suggest that gfh1p and alp16p are codependent for association with a small "core" gamma-TuC, whereas mod21p is more peripherally associated, and that gfh1p and mod21p may form a subcomplex independently of the small gamma-TuC. Interestingly, sucrose gradient analysis suggests that the major form of the gamma-TuC in fission yeast may be a small complex. We propose that gfh1p, mod21p, and alp16 act as facultative "noncore" components of the fission yeast gamma-TuC and enhance its microtubule-nucleating ability.

Cell Shape↗