Electric Field Gradient Focusing Device

A system for particle separation comprising:

• an electric field gradient focusing device comprising:
• a fluidic channel having an inlet and an outlet for a fluid;
• a first actuator configured to induce a fluid flow in the fluidic channel from the inlet to the outlet via AC electroosmosis;
• and
• a second actuator configured to generate a DC electric field gradient along at least part of the fluidic channel;
• a fluidic input configured to provide a fluid comprising a mixture of charged particles comprising a first charged particle;
• and
• a controller comprising one or more processors configured to set the fluid flow generated by the first actuator and to set the DC electric field gradient generated by the second actuator along the at least part of the fluidic channel.

A method for separating a first charged particle from one or more other charged particles in a mixture of charged particles present in a fluid, the method comprising:

• introducing the fluid into a fluidic channel having an inlet and an outlet for the fluid;
• during a first period of time, inducing a fluid flow in the fluidic channel from the inlet to the outlet via AC electroosmosis;
• and
• during a second period of time that overlaps with the first period of time, generating a DC electric field gradient along at least part of the fluidic channel, wherein the fluidic channel comprises a focus region for the first charged particle, an upstream region contiguous to the focus region, and a downstream region contiguous to the focus region, wherein the DC electric field gradient comprises a first DC electric field in the upstream region, a third DC electric field in the downstream region, and a second DC electric field, intermediate between the first and third DC electric field, in the focus region, and wherein the first DC electric field, the third DC electric field, and the fluid flow are adapted so as to translocate the first charged particle towards the focus region.