(251v) Clarification of Breast-Cancer Infected Peripheral Mononuclear Blood Cells in a Semi-Circular Insulator-Based Microfluidic Channel

Currently, early stage breast cancer detection is a major challenge faced by developed and developing countries. This work presents a simulation approach to characterize and separate breast cancer infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (iPBMCs) from the healthy mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using peripheral blood stream via electrodeless dielectrophoresis (eDEP) on a microfluidic platform. COMSOL Mutiphysics v5.2a was used to simulate the device geometry consisting of a microchannel incorporating semicircular obstacles and bifurcating into two outlet channels with different applied voltages and different inlet concentrations in the range of 1 iPBMC per 10 - 108 healthy PBMCs. Mathematical models were solved for current conservation along with fluid flow, convection, and diffusion to predict the concentration distribution of the cells. Flux streamlines were used to represent the path followed by iPBMCs and PBMCs. Results indicate an optimal separation at 30 V and a recovery rate of ~ 89% irrespective of the concentration of the iPBMCs fed into the device. A micro well was used to obtain the electrophysiological properties of iPBMCs and PBMCs and these were used in optimizing the device.