Systems and methods for non-destructive isolation, concentration, and detection for unbiased characterization of nano- and bioparticles

A system comprising:

• an insulator-based dielectrophoresis device comprising:
• (i) a fluid flow channel having at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet,
• (ii) at least one insulating flow structure positioned in the fluid flow channel that defines a constriction;
• (iii) electrodes in electrical communication with the at least one fluid channel inlet and the at least one fluid outlet of the fluid flow channel, wherein the electrodes are positioned to generate a spatially non-uniform electric field across the insulating flow structure of the fluid flow channel to exert a dielectrophoretic force on one or more analytes suspended in the fluid within the fluid flow channel;
• (iv) a power supply connected to each of the electrodes to generate an electric field within the fluid flow channel;
• a light source having an output beam path configured to irradiate the one or more analytes in the fluid flow channel;
• an optical device comprising at least one photon detector configured to acquire light scattered or emitted by the one or more analytes;
• a processor in electrical communication with the power supply, the light source, and the optical device, the processor programmed to:
• apply, using the power supply, a voltage to the electrodes sufficient to separate the one or more analytes in the fluid flow channel and capture at least a portion of the one or more analytes at a trapping zone within the fluid flow channel;
• irradiate, using the light source, the one or more analytes in the trapping zone with light from the light source;
• detect, using the optical device, light scattered or emitted by the one or more analytes in the trapping zone and generate a measurement indicative of the one or more analytes,
• wherein the fluid flow channel of the insulator-based dielectrophoresis device defines a first axis, and the output beam path of the light source defines a second axis. and wherein the first axis and the second axis are perpendicular.