ProDEP: a programmable CMOS dielectrophoresis platform for standardized cell manipulation and effective DEP phenotyping.

Dielectrophoresis (DEP) provides label-free manipulation and characterization of cells, but its broader adoption has been limited by insufficient electrode scalability, restricted field programmability, and the lack of standardized quantitative measurement workflows. Here, we present ProDEP, a programmable dielectrophoresis platform based on a 128 × 128 complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) microelectrode array that integrates software-defined field synthesis, protocol-based automation, and real-time motion analytics. This architecture enables programmable cell manipulation together with flexible and repeatable DEP measurement workflows under defined operating conditions. Using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and differentiated populations as a validation model, we demonstrate robust and repeatable speed-frequency signatures across independent experimental batches, as independently confirmed by flow cytometry. By integrating programmable DEP actuation, protocol-based automation, and automated motion analysis, ProDEP provides a scalable engineering platform for repeatable label-free DEP phenotyping, automated cell handling, and potential quality-control-oriented cell-state assessment.