Microfluidics revolutionizes biology by unveiling the intrinsic electrical properties of leukocytes. In a study using a microfluidic chip, cells from a sepsis model in mice traveled through a channel with electrodes that guided them across a conductivity gradient. Dielectrophoretic force kept cells away from walls, leading to different isodielectric positions (IDP) based on their electrical properties. Researchers visualized the cellular distribution of activated and nonactivated leukocytes using imaging software, correlating with traditional flow cytometry analysis. This groundbreaking work has paved the way for assessing the health status of human volunteers, including those with sepsis, utilizing microfluidic technology.
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