Liposomes as a model for the study of high frequency dielectrophoresis.

Liposomes were used as a physical model to study the dielectrophoretic response of single-shelled particles at high frequencies. For a typical particle, the single-shelled theoretical model predicts a lower cross-over frequency that depends upon the dielectric properties of the shell and an upper crossover frequency that depends upon the dielectric properties of the interior. Dried liposomes were rehydrated in media with conductivity ranging from 100 to 2000 μS/cm.

High frequency dielectrophoretic response of microalgae over time.

The high frequency dielectrophoresis (>20 MHz) response of microalgae cells with different lipid content was monitored over time. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was cultured in regular medium and under nitrogen-depleted conditions in order to produce populations of cells with low and high lipid content, respectively. The electrical conductivity of the culture media was also monitored over the same time.