Single particle analysis using fluidic, optical and electrophoretic force balance in a microfluidic system.

A unique microfluidic system is developed which enables the interrogation of a single particle by using multiple force balances from a combination of optical force, hydrodynamic drag force, and electrophoretic force. Two types of polystyrene (PS) particles with almost identical size and refractive index (plain polystyrene (PS) particle - mean diameter: 2.06 μm, refractive index: 1.59; carboxylated polystyrene (PS-COOH) particles - mean diameter: 2.07 μm, refractive index: 1.60), which could not be distinguished by optical chromatography, reveal different electrokinetic behaviors resulting from the difference in their surface charge densities. The PS-COOH particles, despite their higher surface charge density when compared to the PS particles, experience a lower electrophoretic force, regardless of ionic strength. This phenomenon can be understood when the more prominent polarization of the counter ion cloud surrounding the PS-COOH particles is considered. The surface roughness of the carboxylated particles also plays an important role in the observed electrokinetic behavior.