Scientists at Pennsylvania State University have created a groundbreaking system that uses sound waves to manipulate individual cells or nano-sized particles, all on a chip small enough to be integrated into microfluidic devices. This innovation marks the end of relying solely on large-scale tools like diaphragms for handling microscopic objects.
“Current methods often require a lot of energy and can harm or even kill living cells,†said Huang Jun, an assistant professor in the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics. “Acoustic tweezers are much smaller than optical tweezers and consume 500,000 times less energy. Their compact size allows them to be fabricated using standard chip technology, making it possible to manipulate cells without causing damage.â€
Unlike traditional tools, these acoustic tweezers can position multiple tiny objects simultaneously, arranging them equidistantly along parallel lines or grids. This grid-like structure is particularly useful in biological applications, such as placing stem cells on a lattice for testing or using mesh patterns to grow skin tissue. Researchers can also observe how different cell types grow and interact.
Huang added that the technology isn’t limited to biology—it can also be used in physics, chemistry, and materials science to create nanoparticle patterns for coatings or corrosion-resistant surfaces.
The system works by generating continuous surface acoustic waves. When two sound sources emit waves of the same wavelength in opposite directions, they create a point where the sound cancels out, forming a trough. The pressure from the sound waves pushes small objects toward this area, where they settle and remain. If the sound sources are placed parallel, the troughs form lines, and if they’re at right angles, a checkerboard pattern emerges.
The researchers tested the system with fluorescent polystyrene particles, bovine red blood cells, and single-cell *E. coli*. Even when the cells varied significantly in shape and size, the results showed the versatility of the technology. The findings were published in the latest issue of *Lab on a Chip*.
According to Huang, the system’s performance is independent of a particle’s electrical, magnetic, or optical properties. “Most cells or particles can be patterned in seconds, and the technology can even separate live cells from dead ones or distinguish between different types of particles.â€
With its low energy use, simplicity, and miniaturization, acoustic tweezers offer a clear advantage over existing techniques. Scientists hope this tool will become essential in fields like (bio) tissue engineering, cell research, and drug screening.
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