Application Cases

【Overview】
In this study, the Aigtek ATA-4315 high-voltage power amplifier was used to build a dielectrophoretic sorting experimental system. Submicron microspheres, with their unique size effects, high specific surface area, and tunable surface properties, have broad application prospects in fields such as biomedicine, drug delivery, diagnostic testing, catalysis, and functional materials. As a key quality indicator, particle size uniformity directly determines the physicochemical properties and application performance of microspheres. However, existing preparation techniques generally face significant technical bottlenecks: on one hand, the particle size distribution of microspheres synthesized by conventional methods is relatively broad (coefficient of variation typically exceeding 10%), making it difficult to meet high-precision application requirements; on the other hand, the preparation processes for highly uniform microspheres are often complex and costly.

Experiment Name: Multi-Stage Circulatory Dielectrophoretic Sorting Experiment

Experiment Principle:
The multi-stage circulatory dielectrophoretic chip system designed in this study adopts a分级 (分级,分级) screening strategy, consisting of a total of 6 identical sorting chip units, forming a three-stage circulatory (one cycle consists of one upper-size-limit sorting and one lower-size-limit sorting) sorting system. The system is based on the dielectrophoretic response characteristics of particle size differences to achieve precise sorting of submicron microspheres.

Experimental Block Diagram:

Experimental Setup Photos:

Experimental Procedure:
The experimental system consisted of a signal generator, a high-voltage power amplifier (Aigtek, ATA-4315), a precision syringe pump, an inverted fluorescence microscope, and a nanoparticle tracking analyzer. The sample was a mixture of fluorescent polystyrene microspheres and ultrapure water. Before the experiment, the microsphere suspension was ultrasonically dispersed and diluted, then injected into the chip at a constant rate using the syringe pump. The signal generator applied a 1 MHz, 2 Vpp sinusoidal AC signal, which was amplitude-modulated by the ATA-4315 high-voltage power amplifier. The trajectories of the microspheres were observed in real time using a microscope, and the samples collected from the circulatory sorting were characterized for particle size distribution using the nanoparticle tracking analyzer.

Application Fields:
Biomedicine, drug delivery, new materials, environmental treatment micro-particle sorting, preparation of raw materials for micro-optical devices

Advantages of Aigtek Amplifiers in This Application:

1. DC–3 MHz wideband coverage – Precisely matches the 1 MHz operating frequency, ensuring the stability of the sorting electric field.

2. High voltage output capability – Generates a sufficiently strong non-uniform electric field to achieve precise sorting of submicron microspheres.

3. Low distortion and high output stability – Ensures consistent excitation conditions for each chip unit in the three-stage circulatory sorting system.

Recommended Product: ATA-4000 Series

Figure: ATA-4000 Series High-Voltage Power Amplifier Specifications and Parameters