Towards New Methodologies for Manipulation of Colloidal Particles in a Miniaturized Fluidic Device: Optoelectrokinetic Manipulation Technique

Abstract

The rapid electrokinetic patterning (REP) technique developed recently is a hybrid optoelectrokinetic one that manipulates microor nanocolloids in a microfluidic chip using the simultaneous application of a uniform ac electric field and laser illumination. Since its invention, the technique has been applied to many research fields with promising potential, but these applications are still in their early stages. In order to effectively complete and leverage the applications, this paper reviews the publications concerning the REP technique and discusses its underlying principles, applications, and future prospects.