Limitations of the Clausius-Mossotti Function Used in Dielectrophoresis and Electrical Impedance Studies of Biomacromolecules

Dielectrophoresis (DEP) studies have progressed from the microscopic scale of cells and bacteria, through the mesoscale of virions to the molecular scale of DNA and proteins. The Clausius-Mossotti function, based on macroscopic electrostatics, is invariably employed in the analyses of all these studies. The limitations of this practice are explored, with the conclusion that it should be abandoned for the DEP study of proteins and modified for native DNA. For macromolecular samples in general, a DEP theory that incorporates molecular-scale interactions and the influence of permanent dipoles is more appropriate. Experimental ways to test these conclusions are proposed.