Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qiang Gao, Zhou Yang, Ruitong Zhu, Jinping Wang, Pengzhao Xu, Jiayu Liu, Xiaowen Chen, Zuyao Yan, Yixin Peng, Yanping Wang, Hairong Zheng, Feiyan Cai, Wei Wang
Summary: The researchers have discovered that ultrasound of around 100 kHz can spin spherical micromotors in specific directions and at varying speeds, as well as making them move in circular trajectories. This spinning is believed to be caused by circular microstreaming flows that occur when a solid microsphere vibrates in ultrasound. These flows can also assist in releasing cargos from micromotors. This finding shows that ultrasound can be used to steer microrobots in complex environments and manipulate microorganisms and cells.
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Wei Wei, Yaping Wang, Zhaoxun Wang, Xuexin Duan
Summary: Acoustofluidics, a branch of microfluidics, has developed rapidly in recent decades, with applications in various biomedical and bioanalytical fields. The manipulation of liquids and bioparticles using acoustic pressure and acoustic streaming effects is the main focus of acoustofluidics. While the use of acoustic radiation force has been extensively studied, the recent development of new piezoelectric devices has sparked interest in particle manipulations using drag force induced by acoustic streaming. This review article summarizes the recent advancements in microscale acoustic streaming, including high-frequency transducer-induced high-speed streaming, confinement and programed streaming, and acoustic streaming tweezers, which combine acoustic radiation force and drag force to overcome size limitations in conventional acoustic manipulations. The article also provides a brief overview of acoustic streaming theory, its generation, applications, and key issues in the field. Lastly, the future prospects of micro acoustic streaming in bioanalytical and biomedical applications are discussed.
TRAC-TRENDS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mahnoush Tayebi, Dahou Yang, David J. Collins, Ye Ai
Summary: Active sorting via acoustic and electric fields has potential in microscale separation activities, with the combination of these techniques taking advantage of multiple force mechanisms simultaneously. The concurrent application of dielectrophoretic (DEP) and acousto-phoretic forces has been shown to decrease the critical diameter at which particles can be separated, allowing for efficient sorting of subpopulations of extracellular vesicles. Using a combined acoustic/electric approach, exosome purification with high purity and recovery rates has been demonstrated.
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Kirill Kolesnik, Mingxin Xu, Peter V. S. Lee, Vijay Rajagopal, David J. Collins
Summary: Acoustic fields are utilized in micromanipulation due to their biocompatibility and ability to generate force gradients at the scale of single cells. Recent advances have focused on improving the flexibility of applying acoustic fields, allowing for the generation of arbitrary arrangements of pressure fields, spatial localization of acoustic fields, and selective translation of individual particles. These developments open up a wide range of applications in tissue engineering, diagnostic devices, high-throughput sorting, and microfabrication.
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
D. A. Gubaidullin, P. P. Osipov, A. . A. . Abdyushev
Summary: By simulating the quadrupole hyperbolic resonator, this study investigated the formation of acoustic fields and their influence on particle distribution in complex-shaped acoustofluidic devices, revealing that the effects of the acoustic field on particle distribution depend on the phase shifts of the boundary oscillations.
APPLIED MATHEMATICAL MODELLING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Jun Long Han, Hong Hu, Qing Yun Huang, Yu Lin Lei
Summary: In this study, an acoustofluidic platform based on standing surface acoustic waves (SSAWs) was established to analyze the influence of droplet contact angle on particle separation. Experimental results demonstrated the importance of reducing the contact angle for achieving better particle separation efficiency.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS A-PHYSICAL
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Sadaf Maramizonouz, Mohammad Rahmati, Andreas Link, Thomas Franke, Yongqing Fu
Summary: Exploring acoustic streaming effects for microfluidic devices is crucial in various fields like biomedical engineering, medical diagnostics, cell studies, and chemistry. Computational modeling is essential to understand and efficiently use acoustofluidic systems, with this paper focusing on investigating the effects of surface acoustic waves in a microchannel flow using two computational approaches. Results show that the first approach is more accurate in predicting the dynamic behavior of microparticles, while the second approach is more computationally efficient and still yields reasonable agreement with experiments.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pavlos Anastasiadis, Dheeraj Gandhi, Yutong Guo, Abdul-Kareem Ahmed, Soren M. Bentzen, Costas Arvanitis, Graeme F. Woodworth
Summary: This study evaluates the safety and utility of microbubble-enhanced focused ultrasound for spatially targeted blood-brain barrier opening in patients with infiltrating gliomas.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Jhih-Cheng Wang, Wei-Long Chen, Chun-Jui Chen, Chun-Chieh Chang, Tai-Hua Yang, Han-Sheng Chuang
Summary: The comprehensive understanding of unknown targets in microscale can be achieved by utilizing multifunctional sensing capability. A technique based on micro-particle image velocimetry and Janus particles has been developed to simultaneously measure fluid viscosity, temperature, and velocity fields. Experimental and numerical results have shown the effectiveness and limitations of this technique under different temperature and fluid conditions.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS A-PHYSICAL
(2022)
Article
Physics, Applied
Tengfei Zheng, Yue Liu, Yongqing Fu, Chaohui Wang
Summary: In this paper, a technique using asymmetrically aligned focused surface acoustic waves (FSAWs) was developed to enhance the sensitivity of microarray electrode detection. The effects of various focusing angles of the FSAW devices on acoustic wave amplitudes were analyzed, and the sensitivity of microarray electrochemical sensors was investigated using the FSAW device with a focusing angle of 30 degrees.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Applied
Qing Wang, Antoine Riaud, Jia Zhou, Zhixiong Gong, Michael Baudoin
Summary: This study introduces the concept of finite-duration pulses as the most general condition for deriving the acoustic radiation force. For small spheres, the Gor?kov formula is extended to unsteady acoustic fields, and the concept of acoustic contrast is suggested to express the acoustic radiation force. Experimental results show that the acoustic contrast can influence the action of the acoustic radiation force.
PHYSICAL REVIEW APPLIED
(2021)
Article
Acoustics
I. A. Zhvania, I. I. Konopatskaya, M. A. Mironov, P. A. Pyatakov
Summary: This paper presents results of an experimental study on acoustic streaming excited by focused ultrasound, which reaches its maximum velocity at the transducer's focal spot. The dependence of flow velocity on applied electric voltage is found to be quadratic at low voltages and linear at high voltages. Theoretical assessment of this dependence is also provided in the article, based on materials presented at the Third All-Russian Acoustics Conference in September 2020.
ACOUSTICAL PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Acoustics
M. H. Kandemir, M. Beelen, R. M. Wagterveld, D. R. Yntema, K. J. Keesman
Summary: This paper investigates two methods for generating dynamic acoustic fields and their applicability for selective particle separation. Analytical and computational models were used to predict particle behavior using a dimensionless number. Experimental results confirmed the theoretical and numerical predictions, showing that both methods are suitable for selective particle separation applications.
JOURNAL OF SOUND AND VIBRATION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Tao Peng, Luming Li, Mingyong Zhou, Fengze Jiang
Summary: Acoustic manipulation of microparticles and cells has attracted interest in biomedical applications. In this study, we demonstrated the concentration of microparticles and tumor cells using flexural waves. Numerical simulation was used to predict the acoustic pressure and flow patterns, providing insight into the underlying physical mechanisms of particle motion.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Philippe Vachon, Srinivas Merugu, Jaibir Sharma, Amit Lal, Eldwin J. Ng, Yul Koh, Joshua E. -Y. Lee, Chengkuo Lee
Summary: This study presents microfabricated piezoelectric thin film membranes made via silicon diffusion for guided flexural wave generation as promising acoustofluidic actuators with low frequency, voltage, and power requirements. The guided wave propagation can be dynamically controlled to tune and confine the induced acoustofluidic radiation force and streaming. The membrane acoustic waveguide actuators offer a promising pathway for acoustofluidic applications such as biosensing, organoid production, and in situ analyte transport.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Citsabehsan Devendran, David J. Collins, Adrian Neild
Summary: Surface acoustic wave (SAW) micromanipulation offers modularity, easy integration into microfluidic devices and a high degree of flexibility. However, reducing the threshold for manipulating smaller particles is a major challenge. The novel excitation configuration based on diffractive-acoustic SAW (DASAW) actuation shows promise in reducing the critical minimum particle size that can be manipulated, with the ability to tune the streaming magnitude by changing the channel height.
MICROFLUIDICS AND NANOFLUIDICS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jianwei Zhong, Peixian Li, Minhui Liang, Ye Ai
Summary: The importance of cryopreservation for long-term storage of primary cell samples is highlighted, with special emphasis on the challenges of low viability and cell fragmentation. A label-free viability assessment and on-demand enrichment system for cryopreserved primary human PBMCs with over 90% viability of sorted samples in one step after thawing is demonstrated. This integrated system has broad applications in diverse cellular biology research and cell-related biomedical diagnostics.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Xiaoguang Lu, Ye Ai
Summary: A centrifuge-free and automatic cell wash platform, Puriogen, has been developed for efficient cell purification and has broad applications in cell preparation.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Li Liang, Xuejia Hu, Yang Shi, Shukun Zhao, Qinghao Hu, Minhui Liang, Ye Ai
Summary: This paper introduces a novel optofluidic method for fabricating tunable liquid microlens arrays (MLAs) and demonstrates their ability to achieve tunable focusing and high-quality imaging. The focal length of the MLAs can be adjusted by changing the refractive index of the liquid droplets, showing promising opportunities for various applications.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jianwei Zhong, Qiang Tang, Minhui Liang, Ye Ai
Summary: This article proposes a microfluidic high-throughput impedance cytometry using a unique coplanar electrode configuration, which eliminates height-dependent sensitivity variation and enables accurate electrical cell profiling. The proposed technology can accurately classify and quantify both leukocytes and erythrocytes, offering red blood cell indices for diagnosis.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
William Sean Harley, Kirill Kolesnik, Mingxin Xu, Daniel Edward Heath, David John Collins
Summary: This work demonstrates a method to generate designed and highly localized acoustic fields using 3D resonant mass-spring microstructures, enabling rapid and spatially defined controllable micromanipulation. This sub-wavelength, 3D acoustofluidic approach has potential applications in sample preparation, cell analysis, and diagnostics.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mingxin Xu, William S. Harley, Zhichao Ma, Peter V. S. Lee, David J. Collins
Summary: Acoustic metasurfaces with complex 3D structures complicate their fabrication and applicability to higher frequencies, but an ultrathin metasurface approach utilizing planarized micropillars in a discretized phase array is demonstrated here. This subwavelength metasurface can be easily produced via a single-step etching process and is suitable for megahertz-scale applications. The flexibility of this approach is further demonstrated in the production of complex acoustic patterns via acoustic holography. This metasurface approach, combined with predictive models, has broad potential for robust, high-frequency acoustic manipulation in various applications.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Minhui Liang, Qiang Tang, Jianwei Zhong, Ye Ai
Summary: Microfluidics provides a powerful platform for biological analysis by precisely manipulating fluids and microparticles. The imaging and impedance cell analyzer (IM2Cell) introduced here combines single cell level impedance analysis and hydrodynamic mechanical phenotyping, demonstrating multi-stress level mechanical phenotyping capabilities. IM2Cell can characterize cell diameter, deformability responses, and electrical properties, providing high-dimensional information about subcellular components. It has been validated for different cell lines and shows potential for deformability studies of PBMC subpopulations.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jianwei Zhong, Minhui Liang, Ye Ai
Summary: Co-encapsulation of bead carriers and biological cells in microfluidics has become a powerful technique for various biological assays in single-cell genomics and drug screening. However, current co-encapsulation approaches limit the effective throughput due to a trade-off between cell/bead pairing rate and probability of multiple cells in individual droplets. The DUPLETS system is reported to overcome this problem by differentiating the encapsulated content in individual droplets and sorting out targeted droplets via a combined screening of mechanical and electrical characteristics.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Jianwei Zhong, Minhui Liang, Qiang Tang, Ye Ai
Summary: By introducing a label-free selectable cell quantity encapsulation in droplets sorting system, the purity and throughput of single-cell droplets can be improved. This system combines electrical impedance based screening with biocompatible acoustic sorting to achieve high efficiency and throughput while removing multi-cells and empty droplets.
MATERIALS TODAY BIO
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiahong Chen, Jianwei Zhong, Yifu Chang, Yinning Zhou, Seok Hwee Koo, Thean Yen Tan, Hongtao Lei, Ye Ai
Summary: Antimicrobial resistance is a serious threat to global public health. A label-free electrical impedance-based microfluidic platform has been designed to expedite and streamline antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for clinical practice, with a rapid 2-minute AST assay at the single-bacterium level. This platform enables accurate analysis of bacterial viability and determination of antimicrobial resistance.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Kirill Kolesnik, Daniel Quang Le Pham, Jessica Fong, David John Collins
Summary: Researchers have found that a particle focusing spot in the center of a rotating fluid is formed by the secondary flow. The rotational velocity and the shape of the vessel significantly influence the particle's equilibrium position. This study demonstrates the formation of a single focusing spot in the center of the vessel and the repeatable formation of stable ring-shaped particle arrangements.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Kirill Kolesnik, Philipp Segeritz, Daniel J. Scott, Vijay Rajagopal, David J. Collins
Summary: Acoustofluidic devices can manipulate particles and cells in arbitrary configurations at the microscale without complex patterning. This approach is enabling for cell studies and tissue engineering applications.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jiahong Chen, Jianwei Zhong, Hongtao Lei, Ye Ai
Summary: This study presents a novel microfluidic electrical impedance-based multidimensional single-bacterium profiling system that can detect bacteria in a wide concentration range and accurately differentiate their viability and gram types. The system utilizes multi-frequency impedance quantification to analyze the size, concentration, and membrane impedance of bacteria in a single flow-through interrogation. The system has been demonstrated to have a wide bacterial counting range and can rapidly and accurately discriminate the viability and gram types of bacteria in a label-free manner.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Xiaoguang Lu, Ye Ai
Summary: A centrifuge-free and automatic cell wash platform, Puriogen, has been developed in this study, which can efficiently remove interfering substances from cell samples, improve cell wash efficiency and cell viability, and has broad applications in cell preparation.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)