Keywords

acousto-dielectric tweezers, microparticle manipulation, independent particle control, surface acoustic waves (SAWs), cell–cell interactions, intercellular distance control

Abstract

Acoustic tweezers have gained substantial interest in biology, engineering, and materials science for their label-free, precise, contactless, and programmable manipulation of small objects. However, acoustic tweezers cannot independently manipulate multiple microparticles simultaneously. This study introduces acousto-dielectric tweezers capable of independently manipulating multiple microparticles and precise control over intercellular distances and cyclical cell pairing and separation for detailed cell-cell interaction analysis. Our acousto-dielectric tweezers leverage the competition between acoustic radiation forces, generated by standing surface acoustic waves (SAWs), and dielectrophoretic (DEP) forces, induced by gradient electric fields. Modulating these fields allows for the precise positioning of individual microparticles at points where acoustic radiation and DEP forces are in equilibrium. This mechanism enables the simultaneous movement of multiple microparticles along specified paths as well as cyclical cell pairing and separation. We anticipate our acousto-dielectric tweezers to have enormous potential in colloidal assembly, cell-cell interaction studies, disease diagnostics, and tissue engineering.

Original Publication Citation

Liang Shen et al. , Acousto-dielectric tweezers enable independent manipulation of multiple particles. Sci. Adv. 10, eado8992 (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ado8992

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2024-08-07

Publisher

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Language

English

College

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering

Department

Chemical Engineering

University Standing at Time of Publication

Assistant Professor

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