Electrofusion of cells with different diameters by generating asymmetrical electric field in the microwell array.

This paper reports a superiority of the asymmetric electric field formed in the rectangle microwell array for the electrofusion of splenocytes and myeloma cells with different diameters. The upper substrate with microband electrodes was mounted on the lower substrate with the microwell array. Two electrodes were arranged at the both sides of the microwells on the bottom surface. An attractive force of positive dielectrophoresis was employed to capture splenocytes with smaller diameter and myeloma cells with larger diameter at the right and left of microwells by applying AC electric field. The splenocytes and myeloma cells were fused by the asymmetric electric field that was generated in the microwells by applying DC electric pulse to the bottom electrode at the right side. The asymmetric field could allow to the formation of small openings on the membrane for the fusion of smaller splenocytes by experiencing higher field and the suppression for the disruption of larger myeloma cells by experiencing lower field.