Dependence of Shape and Geometry of Microelectrodes in Manipulating Polarizable Particles like DNA through Electro-kinetic Effects

Abstract

Recently electro-kinetics, namely AC electro-osmosis and dielectrophoresis have been judiciously utilised to manipulate movement of polarizable particles like DNA suspended in aqueous solution and placed between electrically fed microelectrodes. Researchers around the globe have tried to fabricate electrodes of different geometries to understand how electric field owing to sharpness of the electrodes has influenced the aforementioned electro-kinetic properties. In this review, we have presented a chronological development indesign of patterned electrodes used to align and trap DNA molecules in and around the electrodes. We have examined the pros and the cons of such geometry of the set of the micro-electrodes and also tried to provide a solution in terms of shape and sharpness of the electrode that would facilitate DNA molecules to bridge between the electrodes for further application of conducting DNA as molecular wire.