Pulsed-field separation of particles in a microfluidic device.

We demonstrate the proof-of-principle of a new separation concept for micrometer-sized particles in a structured microfluidic device. Under the action of externally applied, periodic voltage-pulses two different species of like-charged polystyrene beads are observed to simultaneously migrate into opposite directions. Based on a theoretical model of the particle motion in the microdevice that shows good agreement with the experimental measurements, the underlying separation mechanism is identified and explained. Potential biophysical applications, such as cell sorting, are briefly addressed.