On-chip manipulation of single microparticles, cells, and organisms using surface acoustic waves.
Techniques that can dexterously manipulate single particles, cells, and organisms are invaluable for many applications in biology, chemistry, engineering, and physics. Here, we demonstrate standing surface acoustic wave based "acoustic tweezers" that can trap and manipulate single microparticles, cells, and entire organisms (i.e., Caenorhabditis elegans) in a single-layer microfluidic chip. Our acoustic tweezers utilize the wide resonance band of chirped interdigital transducers to achieve real-time control of a standing surface acoustic wave field, which enables flexible manipulation of most known microparticles. The power density required by our acoustic device is significantly lower than its optical counterparts (10,000,000 times less than optical tweezers and 100 times less than optoelectronic tweezers), which renders the technique more biocompatible and amenable to miniaturization. Cell-viability tests were conducted to verify the tweezers' compatibility with biological objects. With its advantages in biocompatibility, miniaturization, and versatility, the acoustic tweezers presented here will become a powerful tool for many disciplines of science and engineering.
Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Xiaoyun
X
Ding
Sz-Chin Steven
SC
Lin
Brian
B
Kiraly
Hongjun
H
Yue
Sixing
S
Li
I-Kao
IK
Chiang
Jinjie
J
Shi
Stephen J
SJ
Benkovic
Tony Jun
TJ
Huang
D000162:Acoustics; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001698:Biomedical Engineering / Q000379:methods; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; D044085:Microfluidics; D008846:Micromanipulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008904:Miniaturization; D052898:Optical Tweezers; D010316:Particle Size; D013016:Sound; D014159:Transducers
D001672:Biocompatible Materials