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Cao HX, Nguyen VD, Park JO, Choi E, Kang B. Acoustic Actuators for the Manipulation of Micro/Nanorobots: State-of-the-Art and Future Outlooks. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:186. [PMID: 38398914 PMCID: PMC10890471 DOI: 10.3390/mi15020186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Compared to other actuating methods, acoustic actuators offer the distinctive capability of the contactless manipulation of small objects, such as microscale and nanoscale robots. Furthermore, they have the ability to penetrate the skin, allowing for the trapping and manipulation of micro/nanorobots that carry therapeutic agents in diverse media. In this review, we summarize the current progress in using acoustic actuators for the manipulation of micro/nanorobots used in various biomedical applications. First, we introduce the actuating method of using acoustic waves to manipulate objects, including the principle of operation and different types of acoustic actuators that are usually employed. Then, applications involving manipulating different types of devices are reviewed, including bubble-based microrobots, bubble-free robots, biohybrid microrobots, and nanorobots. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future perspectives for the development of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiep Xuan Cao
- Robot Research Initiative, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; (H.X.C.); (E.C.)
- Korea Institute of Medical Microrobotics, Gwangju 61011, Republic of Korea;
| | - Van Du Nguyen
- Robot Research Initiative, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; (H.X.C.); (E.C.)
- Korea Institute of Medical Microrobotics, Gwangju 61011, Republic of Korea;
| | - Jong-Oh Park
- Korea Institute of Medical Microrobotics, Gwangju 61011, Republic of Korea;
| | - Eunpyo Choi
- Robot Research Initiative, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; (H.X.C.); (E.C.)
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Byungjeon Kang
- Robot Research Initiative, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; (H.X.C.); (E.C.)
- Graduate School of Data Science, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
- College of AI Convergence, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
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2
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Titov SA, Burlakov AB, Zinin PV, Bogachenkov AN. Measurement of ultrasound velocity in yolk and blastula of fish embryo in vivo. ULTRASONICS 2023; 132:106963. [PMID: 36863133 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2023.106963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
An acoustic microscopy method for measuring the velocity of ultrasound in the yolk and blastula of bony fish embryos at early stages of development was proposed. The yolk and blastula were approximated as a sphere and a spherical dome, respectively, consisting of a homogeneous liquid. A theoretical model of ultrasonic wave propagation through a spherical liquid drop located on a solid substrate was developed in the ray approximation. The dependence of the wave propagation time on the speed of sound in the drop, its diameter, and the position of the focus of the ultrasonic transducer has been determined. It was shown that the velocity in the drop can be found by solving the inverse problem by minimizing the discrepancy between the experimental and model spatial distributions of the propagation time, assuming that the velocity in the immersion liquid and the radius of the drop are known. The velocities in the yolk and blastula of the loach (Misgurnus fossilis) embryo at the stage of development of the middle blastula were measured in vivo using a pulsed scanning acoustic microscope operating at a central frequency of 50 MHz. The yolk and blastula radii were determined from ultrasound images of the embryo. Acoustic microscopy measurements conducted with four embryos provide velocities of the acoustic longitudinal wave in the yolk and blastula. They were measured to be 1581 ± 5 m/s and 1525 ± 4 m/s when the temperature of the liquid in the water tank was kept at 22 ± 2 °C.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Titov
- Scientific and Technological Center for Unique Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences(STC UP RAS), 15 Butlerova str, Moscow 117342, Russia.
| | - A B Burlakov
- Lomonosov Moscow state University, 1 Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - P V Zinin
- Scientific and Technological Center for Unique Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences(STC UP RAS), 15 Butlerova str, Moscow 117342, Russia
| | - A N Bogachenkov
- Institute of Biochemical Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 4 Kosygina str, Moscow 119334, Russia
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3
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Hasegawa K, Murata M. Oscillation Dynamics of Multiple Water Droplets Levitated in an Acoustic Field. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:1373. [PMID: 36143996 PMCID: PMC9500997 DOI: 10.3390/mi13091373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to improve and investigate the oscillation dynamics and levitation stability of acoustically levitated water droplets. Contactless sample manipulation technology in mid-air has attracted significant attention in the fields of biochemistry and pharmaceutical science. Although one promising method is acoustic levitation, most studies have focused on a single sample. Therefore, it is important to determine the stability of multiple samples during acoustic levitation. Here, we aim to understand the effect of multiple-sample levitation on levitation stability in acoustic fields. We visualized the oscillatory motion of multiple levitated droplets using a high-speed video camera. To characterize the dynamics of multiple levitating droplets, the oscillation frequency and restoring force coefficients of the levitated samples, which were obtained from the experimental data, were analyzed to quantify the droplet-droplet interaction. The oscillation model of the spring-mass system was compared with the experimental results, and we found that the number of levitating droplets and their position played an important role in the levitation stability of the droplets. Our insights could help us understand the oscillatory behavior of levitated droplets to achieve more stable levitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji Hasegawa
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kogakuin University, Tokyo 163-8677, Japan
| | - Manami Murata
- Graduate School of Engineering, Kogakuin University, Tokyo 163-8677, Japan
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Rothlisberger M, Schuck M, Kolar JW. Kilohertz-Frequency Rotation of Acoustically Levitated Particles. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2022; 69:1528-1534. [PMID: 35120003 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2022.3149131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The achievable rotational frequency of acoustically levitated particles is limited by the suspension stability and the achievable driving torque. In this work, a spherical ring arrangement of piezoelectric transducers and an improved excitation concept are presented to increase the rotational speed of an acoustically levitated particle by more than a factor of 10 compared to previously published results. A maximum rotational frequency of 3.6 kHz using asymmetric expanded polystyrene (EPS) particles is demonstrated. At such rotational speeds, high-frequency resonances of the transducers cause disturbances of the acoustic field which present a previously unexplored limit to the achievable manipulation rate of the particle. This limit is investigated in this work by means of calculations based on an analytical model and high precision measurements of the transducer characteristics beyond the conventional frequency range.
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Jooss VM, Bolten JS, Huwyler J, Ahmed D. In vivo acoustic manipulation of microparticles in zebrafish embryos. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm2785. [PMID: 35333569 PMCID: PMC8956268 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm2785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
In vivo micromanipulation using ultrasound is an exciting technology with promises for cancer research, brain research, vasculature biology, diseases, and treatment development. In the present work, we demonstrate in vivo manipulation of gas-filled microparticles using zebrafish embryos as a vertebrate model system. Micromanipulation methods often are conducted in vitro, and they do not fully reflect the complex environment associated in vivo. Four piezoelectric actuators were positioned orthogonally to each other around an off-centered fluidic channel that allowed for two-dimensional manipulation of intravenously injected microbubbles. Selective manipulation of microbubbles inside a blood vessel with micrometer precision was achieved without interfering with circulating blood cells. Last, we studied the viability of zebrafish embryos subjected to the acoustic field. This successful high-precision, in vivo acoustic manipulation of intravenously injected microbubbles offers potentially promising therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Manuel Jooss
- Acoustics Robotics Systems Lab (ARSL), ETH-Zürich, Rüschlikon CH-8803, Switzerland
| | - Jan Stephan Bolten
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Basel, Basel CH-4056, Switzerland
| | - Jörg Huwyler
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Basel, Basel CH-4056, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Ahmed
- Acoustics Robotics Systems Lab (ARSL), ETH-Zürich, Rüschlikon CH-8803, Switzerland
- Corresponding author.
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6
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Abstract
Acoustic levitation forces can be used to manipulate small objects and liquids without mechanical contact or contamination. This work presents analytical models based on which concepts for the controlled insertion of objects into the acoustic field are developed. This is essential for the use of acoustic levitators as contactless robotic grippers. Three prototypes of such grippers are implemented and used to experimentally verify the lifting of objects into an acoustic pressure field. Lifting of high-density objects (ρ > 7 g/cm3) from acoustically transparent surfaces is demonstrated using a double-sided acoustic gripper that generates standing acoustic waves with dynamically adjustable acoustic power. A combination of multiple acoustic traps is used to lift lower density objects (ρ≤0.25g/cm3) from acoustically reflective surfaces using a single-sided arrangement. Furthermore, a method that uses standing acoustic waves and thin reflectors to lift medium-density objects (ρ≤1g/cm3) from acoustically reflective surfaces is presented. The provided results open up new possibilities for using acoustic levitation in robotic grippers, which has the potential to be applied in a variety of industrial use cases.
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Controlling oleogel crystallization using ultrasonic standing waves. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14448. [PMID: 32879336 PMCID: PMC7468300 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71177-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Oleogels are lipid-based soft materials composed of large fractions of oil (> 85%) developed as saturated and hydrogenated fat substitutes to reduce cardiovascular diseases caused by obesity. Promising oleogels are unstable during storage, and to improve their stability careful control of the crystalline network is necessary. However, this is unattainable with state-of-the-art technologies. We employ ultrasonic standing wave (USSW) fields to modify oleogel structure. During crystallization, the growing crystals move towards the US-SW nodal planes. Homogeneous, dense bands of microcrystals form independently of oleogelator type, concentration, and cooling rate. The thickness of these bands is proportional to the USSW wavelength. These new structures act as physical barriers in reducing the migration kinetics of a liposoluble colorant compared to statically crystallized oleogels. These results may extend beyond oleogels to potentially be used wherever careful control of the crystallization process and final structure of a system is needed, such as in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, chemical, and food industries.
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Zhang P, Bachman H, Ozcelik A, Huang TJ. Acoustic Microfluidics. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY (PALO ALTO, CALIF.) 2020; 13:17-43. [PMID: 32531185 PMCID: PMC7415005 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-anchem-090919-102205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Acoustic microfluidic devices are powerful tools that use sound waves to manipulate micro- or nanoscale objects or fluids in analytical chemistry and biomedicine. Their simple device designs, biocompatible and contactless operation, and label-free nature are all characteristics that make acoustic microfluidic devices ideal platforms for fundamental research, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Herein, we summarize the physical principles underlying acoustic microfluidics and review their applications, with particular emphasis on the manipulation of macromolecules, cells, particles, model organisms, and fluidic flows. We also present future goals of this technology in analytical chemistry and biomedical research, as well as challenges and opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiran Zhang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA;
| | - Hunter Bachman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA;
| | - Adem Ozcelik
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın 09010, Turkey;
| | - Tony Jun Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA;
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Wang H, Qiao Y, Liu J, Jiang B, Zhang G, Zhang C, Liu X. Experimental study of the difference in deformation between normal and pathological, renal and bladder, cells induced by acoustic radiation force. EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL: EBJ 2020; 49:155-161. [PMID: 32006056 DOI: 10.1007/s00249-020-01422-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that alterations in the mechanical properties of cells may be associated with the onset and progression of some forms of pathology. In this paper, an experimental study of two types of cells, renal (cancer) and bladder (cancer) cells, is described which used acoustic radiation force (ARF) generated by a high-frequency ultrasound focusing transducer and performed on the operating platform of an inverted light microscope. Comparing images of cancer cells with those of normal cells of the same kind, we find that the cancer cells are more prone to deform than normal cells of the same kind under the same ARF. In addition, cancer cells with higher malignancy are more deformable than those with lower malignancy. This means that the deformability of cells may be used to distinguish diseased cells from normal ones, and more aggressive cells from less aggressive ones, which may provide a more rapid and accurate method for clinical diagnosis of urological disease in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Modern Acoustics, Institute of Acoustics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
- School of Science, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yupei Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Modern Acoustics, Institute of Acoustics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Jiehui Liu
- Key Laboratory of Modern Acoustics, Institute of Acoustics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Bo Jiang
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Gutian Zhang
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Chengwei Zhang
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Xiaozhou Liu
- Key Laboratory of Modern Acoustics, Institute of Acoustics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Acoustics, Institute of Acoustics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
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10
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Maruyama Y, Hasegawa K. Evaporation and drying kinetics of water-NaCl droplets via acoustic levitation. RSC Adv 2020; 10:1870-1877. [PMID: 35494584 PMCID: PMC9048286 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra09395h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The acoustic levitation method (ALM) is expected to be applied as a container-less processing technology in the material science, analytical chemistry, biomedical technology, and food science domains because this method can be used to levitate any sample in mid-air and prevent nucleation and contamination due to the container wall. However, this approach can lead to nonlinear behavior, such as acoustic streaming, which promotes the evaporation of a levitated droplet. This study aims to understand the evaporation and precipitation kinetics of an acoustically levitated multicomponent droplet. An experimental investigation of the evaporation process of a salt solution droplet was performed, and the experimental results were compared with those of the d 2-law. The droplet was noted to evaporate in two stages owing to the precipitation of the salt. Because of the vapor pressure depression, the experimental data did not agree with the classical prediction obtained using the d 2-law. However, the experimental results were in partial agreement with those of the d 2-law when the vapor pressure depression was considered by using the concentration estimate at each time, as obtained from the experimental results. In addition, it was observed that the time when the salt completely precipitated could be estimated by using the extended theory. These findings provide physical and practical insights into the droplet evaporation mid-air for potential lab-in-a-drop applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaro Maruyama
- Graduate School of Engineering, Kogakuin University Tokyo 163-8677 Japan
| | - Koji Hasegawa
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kogakuin University Tokyo 163-8677 Japan
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11
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Li L, Gu N, Dong H, Li B, T. V. G. K. Analysis of the effects of acoustic levitation to simulate the microgravity environment on the development of early zebrafish embryos. RSC Adv 2020; 10:44593-44600. [PMID: 35517124 PMCID: PMC9058438 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra07344j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In this work, an acoustic standing wave field (ASWF) is used to simulate the space environment, which shows characteristics such as microgravity and the absence of containment and contact. Zebrafish embryos, used as the species under study in this work, were raised within the acoustic field by the authors, allowing the biological effects on such early zebrafish embryos, at each developmental stage and within the ASWF creating the acoustic levitation (AL) technology used, to be studied. In this way, the biological safety of thee specimens, simulating the space environment, could be carefully evaluated. Some important indexes of the process of zebrafish development, such as mortality, malformation rate, hatching rate, voluntary movement and heart rate were detected and analyzed. It has been found that the ASWF exerted considerable influence on the zebrafish embryos at the early development stage, influencing features such as the cleavage, blastula and gastrul stage, over the period 0–8 hour post fertilization (hpf). The zebrafish appear to show some features of teratogenesis, as well as lethal effects and a significant decrease of the hatching rate, after being treated by using the AL that was applied. Furthermore, it was observed that voluntary movements and the embryo heart rates apparently increased under these conditions. However, as the development of the embryo progressed into the bursa pharyngea stage (at 24–32 hpf), the influence of the ASWF creating the AL on zebrafish seemed almost to be insignificant, as there was no obvious difference between the characteristics of the experimental group and the control group. The experiment carried out has provided a scientific reference for the application of AL in this field, allowing the biological safety aspects of such zebrafish embryo development within a space environment to be evaluated. Influence of acoustic standing wave field creating acoustic levitation, on each development stage of early zebrafish embryos has been studied.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Li
- School of Life Sciences and Technology
- Harbin Institute of Technology
- Harbin 150080
- China
| | - Ning Gu
- School of Life Sciences and Technology
- Harbin Institute of Technology
- Harbin 150080
- China
| | - Huijuan Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics and Systems
- Harbin Institute of Technology
- Harbin 150080
- China
| | - Bingsheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment
- Harbin Institute of Technology
- Harbin 150090
- China
- Key Laboratory of UV Light Emitting Materials and Technology Under Ministry of Education
| | - Kenneth T. V. G.
- School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering
- City, University of London
- London
- UK
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12
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Niimura Y, Hasegawa K. Evaporation of droplet in mid-air: Pure and binary droplets in single-axis acoustic levitator. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212074. [PMID: 30811437 PMCID: PMC6392253 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Acoustic levitation method (ALM) is a container-less processing method with applications in various fields, including material processing, biology, and analytical chemistry. Because it is a container-less processing technique, ALM could prevent nucleation and contamination of materials being processed via contact with a container wall. It is well-known that evaporation of a sample is an important process in container-less processing of materials; however, the mechanism of evaporation in multicomponent droplets in a single acoustic levitator is still unclear. Thus, we evaluate and understand the evaporation of an acoustically levitated multicomponent droplet and manipulate the evaporation process of the sample in this study. Specifically, we investigate the evaporation process of pure and multicomponent droplets using container-less processing experimentally. The evaporation processes and temporal evolution of the surface temperature of a multicomponent droplet were evaluated using a high-speed camera and radiation thermometer, respectively. We used water, ethanol, methanol, hexane, acetone, pentane, and binary solutions (solution of 25 wt%, 50 wt%, and 75 wt% ethanol, methanol, and acetone, respectively) as test samples to study the effect of saturated vapor pressure on evaporation. Ethanol, methanol, and acetone droplets evaporate in two different stages. It was observed that the water vapor in the air condensed during the evaporation process of these water-soluble droplets; hence, our experimental data did not agree with the theoretical prediction in accordance with the d2 law. Nevertheless, the evaporation behavior in the first stage of evaporation was consistent with the theoretical prediction. Furthermore, for binary droplets, as the concentration of the resultant solution increased owing to evaporation, the transition time from the first to the second stage of evaporation also increased. Based on these observations, estimation equations for binary droplets were developed to ensure that the experimental and theoretical values were in good agreement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Niimura
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kogakuin University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koji Hasegawa
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kogakuin University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
- * E-mail:
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Yang Z, Cole KLH, Qiu Y, Somorjai IML, Wijesinghe P, Nylk J, Cochran S, Spalding GC, Lyons DA, Dholakia K. Light sheet microscopy with acoustic sample confinement. Nat Commun 2019; 10:669. [PMID: 30737391 PMCID: PMC6368588 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08514-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Contactless sample confinement would enable a whole host of new studies in developmental biology and neuroscience, in particular, when combined with long-term, wide-field optical imaging. To achieve this goal, we demonstrate a contactless acoustic gradient force trap for sample confinement in light sheet microscopy. Our approach allows the integration of real-time environmentally controlled experiments with wide-field low photo-toxic imaging, which we demonstrate on a variety of marine animal embryos and larvae. To illustrate the key advantages of our approach, we provide quantitative data for the dynamic response of the heartbeat of zebrafish larvae to verapamil and norepinephrine, which are known to affect cardiovascular function. Optical flow analysis allows us to explore the cardiac cycle of the zebrafish and determine the changes in contractile volume within the heart. Overcoming the restrictions of sample immobilisation and mounting can open up a broad range of studies, with real-time drug-based assays and biomechanical analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyi Yang
- SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9SS, UK.
- Electron Bio-Imaging Centre, Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, OX11 0DE, UK.
| | - Katy L H Cole
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, MS Society Centre for Translational Research, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Yongqiang Qiu
- School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
- Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK
| | - Ildikó M L Somorjai
- The Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
- Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, North Haugh, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9ST, UK
| | - Philip Wijesinghe
- SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9SS, UK
- BRITElab, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- Department of Electrical, Electronic & Computer Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Jonathan Nylk
- SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9SS, UK
| | - Sandy Cochran
- School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Gabriel C Spalding
- Department of Physics, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL, 61701, USA
| | - David A Lyons
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, MS Society Centre for Translational Research, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Kishan Dholakia
- SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9SS, UK.
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14
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Andrade MAB, Camargo TSA, Marzo A. Automatic contactless injection, transportation, merging, and ejection of droplets with a multifocal point acoustic levitator. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2018; 89:125105. [PMID: 30599572 DOI: 10.1063/1.5063715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We present an acoustic levitation system that automatically injects, transports, merges and ejects liquid droplets in mid-air. The system consists of a phased array operating at 40 kHz on top of a plane reflector. The phase array generates multiple focal points at independent positions that form standing waves between the array and the reflector. In the reflector there is an inlet for a piezoelectric droplet injector which automatically inserts liquid droplets at the lower pressure nodes of the standing waves, and a hole that serves as an outlet for ejecting the processed droplets out of the system. Simulations of the acoustic radiation potential acting on the levitating droplets are in good agreement with the experiments. High-speed footage captured the functioning of the system in four fluidic operations: injection, transport, merging and ejection of liquid droplets. Having these operations integrated reliably into a single automatic system paves the way for the adoption of mid-air acoustophoretic processing in biological, chemical and pharmaceutical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco A B Andrade
- Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Thales S A Camargo
- Department of Mining and Petroleum Engineering, University of São Paulo, Santos 11013-560, Brazil
| | - Asier Marzo
- Computer Science, Public University of Navarre, Pamplona 31006, Navarre, Spain
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15
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Abstract
Acoustic tweezers are a versatile set of tools that use sound waves to manipulate bioparticles ranging from nanometer-sized extracellular vesicles to millimeter-sized multicellular organisms. Over the past several decades, the capabilities of acoustic tweezers have expanded from simplistic particle trapping to precise rotation and translation of cells and organisms in three dimensions. Recent advances have led to reconfigured acoustic tweezers that are capable of separating, enriching, and patterning bioparticles in complex solutions. Here, we review the history and fundamentals of acoustic-tweezer technology and summarize recent breakthroughs.
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Marzo A, Caleap M, Drinkwater BW. Acoustic Virtual Vortices with Tunable Orbital Angular Momentum for Trapping of Mie Particles. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2018; 120:044301. [PMID: 29437423 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.120.044301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Acoustic vortices can transfer angular momentum and trap particles. Here, we show that particles trapped in airborne acoustic vortices orbit at high speeds, leading to dynamic instability and ejection. We demonstrate stable trapping inside acoustic vortices by generating sequences of short-pulsed vortices of equal helicity but opposite chirality. This produces a "virtual vortex" with an orbital angular momentum that can be tuned independently of the trapping force. We use this method to adjust the rotational speed of particles inside a vortex beam and, for the first time, create three-dimensional acoustics traps for particles of wavelength order (i.e., Mie particles).
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Affiliation(s)
- Asier Marzo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol. University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TR, United Kingdom
| | - Mihai Caleap
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol. University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TR, United Kingdom
| | - Bruce W Drinkwater
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol. University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TR, United Kingdom
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Marzo A, Barnes A, Drinkwater BW. TinyLev: A multi-emitter single-axis acoustic levitator. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2017; 88:085105. [PMID: 28863691 DOI: 10.1063/1.4989995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Acoustic levitation has the potential to enable novel studies due to its ability to hold a wide variety of substances against gravity under container-less conditions. It has found application in spectroscopy, chemistry, and the study of organisms in microgravity. Current levitators are constructed using Langevin horns that need to be manufactured to high tolerance with carefully matched resonant frequencies. This resonance condition is hard to maintain as their temperature changes due to transduction heating. In addition, Langevin horns are required to operate at high voltages (>100 V) which may cause problems in challenging experimental environments. Here, we design, build, and evaluate a single-axis levitator based on multiple, low-voltage (ca. 20 V), well-matched, and commercially available ultrasonic transducers. The levitator operates at 40 kHz in air and can trap objects above 2.2 g/cm3 density and 4 mm in diameter whilst consuming 10 W of input power. Levitation of water, fused-silica spheres, small insects, and electronic components is demonstrated. The device is constructed from low-cost off-the-shelf components and is easily assembled using 3D printed sections. Complete instructions and a part list are provided on how to assemble the levitator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asier Marzo
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TR, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian Barnes
- School of Physics, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL, United Kingdom
| | - Bruce W Drinkwater
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TR, United Kingdom
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18
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Andrade MAB, Okina FTA, Bernassau AL, Adamowski JC. Acoustic levitation of an object larger than the acoustic wavelength. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2017; 141:4148. [PMID: 28618830 DOI: 10.1121/1.4984286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Levitation and manipulation of objects by sound waves have a wide range of applications in chemistry, biology, material sciences, and engineering. However, the current acoustic levitation techniques are mainly restricted to particles that are much smaller than the acoustic wavelength. In this work, it is shown that acoustic standing waves can be employed to stably levitate an object much larger than the acoustic wavelength in air. The levitation of a large slightly curved object weighting 2.3 g is demonstrated by using a device formed by two 25 kHz ultrasonic Langevin transducers connected to an aluminum plate. The sound wave emitted by the device provides a vertical acoustic radiation force to counteract gravity and a lateral restoring force that ensure horizontal stability to the levitated object. In order to understand the levitation stability, a numerical model based on the finite element method is used to determine the acoustic radiation force that acts on the object.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco A B Andrade
- Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Fábio T A Okina
- Department of Mechatronics and Mechanical Systems Engineering, Escola Politécnica, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-030, Brazil
| | - Anne L Bernassau
- School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, United Kingdom
| | - Julio C Adamowski
- Department of Mechatronics and Mechanical Systems Engineering, Escola Politécnica, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-030, Brazil
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Zang D, Yu Y, Chen Z, Li X, Wu H, Geng X. Acoustic levitation of liquid drops: Dynamics, manipulation and phase transitions. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2017; 243:77-85. [PMID: 28343560 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2017.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The technique of acoustic levitation normally produces a standing wave and the potential well of the sound field can be used to trap small objects. Since no solid surface is involved it has been widely applied for the study of fluid physics, nucleation, bio/chemical processes, and various forms of soft matter. In this article, we survey the works on drop dynamics in acoustic levitation, focus on how the dynamic behavior is related to the rheological properties and discuss the possibility to develop a novel rheometer based on this technique. We review the methods and applications of acoustic levitation for the manipulation of both liquid and solid samples and emphasize the important progress made in the study of phase transitions and bio-chemical analysis. We also highlight the possible open areas for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duyang Zang
- Functional Soft Matter & Materials Group, Key Laboratory of Space Applied Physics and Chemistry of Ministry of Education, School of Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710129, China.
| | - Yinkai Yu
- Functional Soft Matter & Materials Group, Key Laboratory of Space Applied Physics and Chemistry of Ministry of Education, School of Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710129, China
| | - Zhen Chen
- Functional Soft Matter & Materials Group, Key Laboratory of Space Applied Physics and Chemistry of Ministry of Education, School of Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710129, China
| | - Xiaoguang Li
- Functional Soft Matter & Materials Group, Key Laboratory of Space Applied Physics and Chemistry of Ministry of Education, School of Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710129, China
| | - Hongjing Wu
- Functional Soft Matter & Materials Group, Key Laboratory of Space Applied Physics and Chemistry of Ministry of Education, School of Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710129, China
| | - Xingguo Geng
- Functional Soft Matter & Materials Group, Key Laboratory of Space Applied Physics and Chemistry of Ministry of Education, School of Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710129, China
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Ultrasonic acoustic levitation for fast frame rate X-ray protein crystallography at room temperature. Sci Rep 2016; 6:25558. [PMID: 27150272 PMCID: PMC4858681 DOI: 10.1038/srep25558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing the data acquisition rate of X-ray diffraction images for macromolecular crystals at room temperature at synchrotrons has the potential to significantly accelerate both structural analysis of biomolecules and structure-based drug developments. Using lysozyme model crystals, we demonstrated the rapid acquisition of X-ray diffraction datasets by combining a high frame rate pixel array detector with ultrasonic acoustic levitation of protein crystals in liquid droplets. The rapid spinning of the crystal within a levitating droplet ensured an efficient sampling of the reciprocal space. The datasets were processed with a program suite developed for serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX). The structure, which was solved by molecular replacement, was found to be identical to the structure obtained by the conventional oscillation method for up to a 1.8-Å resolution limit. In particular, the absence of protein crystal damage resulting from the acoustic levitation was carefully established. These results represent a key step towards a fully automated sample handling and measurement pipeline, which has promising prospects for a high acquisition rate and high sample efficiency for room temperature X-ray crystallography.
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Vasileiou T, Foresti D, Bayram A, Poulikakos D, Ferrari A. Toward Contactless Biology: Acoustophoretic DNA Transfection. Sci Rep 2016; 6:20023. [PMID: 26828312 PMCID: PMC4734324 DOI: 10.1038/srep20023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Acoustophoresis revolutionized the field of container-less manipulation of liquids and solids by enabling mixing procedures which avoid contamination and loss of reagents due to the contact with the support. While its applications to chemistry and engineering are straightforward, additional developments are needed to obtain reliable biological protocols in a contactless environment. Here, we provide a first, fundamental step towards biological reactions in air by demonstrating the acoustophoretic DNA transfection of mammalian cells. We developed an original acoustophoretic design capable of levitating, moving and mixing biological suspensions of living mammalians cells and of DNA plasmids. The precise and sequential delivery of the mixed solutions into tissue culture plates is actuated by a novel mechanism based on the controlled actuation of the acoustophoretic force. The viability of the contactless procedure is tested using a cellular model sensitive to small perturbation of neuronal differentiation pathways. Additionally, the efficiency of the transfection procedure is compared to standard, container-based methods for both single and double DNA transfection and for different cell types including adherent growing HeLa cancer cells, and low adhesion neuron-like PC12 cells. In all, this work provides a proof of principle which paves the way to the development of high-throughput acoustophoretic biological reactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Vasileiou
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniele Foresti
- Harvard University, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Northwest Labs, B146.40, 52 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Adem Bayram
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dimos Poulikakos
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Aldo Ferrari
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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