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Chen D, Zheng L, Xie Y, Zhang C, Liu S, Jiang C, Zhou W, Luo T. Design and numerical study of a bidirectional acoustic microfluidic pump enabled by microcantilever arrays. Electrophoresis 2024; 45:1130-1141. [PMID: 37590395 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202300146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidics offers a versatile and promising platform for various applications in biomedical and other fields, boasting cost-effectiveness, rapid analysis time, and a compact equipment footprint. However, achieving controlled and versatile microfluidic motion within implantable devices presents a significant challenge. In this study, we propose a novel bidirectional micro-pump design that leverages two sharp-edge microcantilever arrays, driven by ultrasound, to enable selective flow direction by manipulating the ultrasound frequency. Through systematic numerical simulation, we demonstrate the feasibility of this design and further optimize its performance through comprehensive parametric analysis. This work provides valuable guidance for the practical development of sharp-edge-based acoustic micro-pumps, particularly for potential implantable applications such as controlled drug release and in vivo sampling for advanced diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongyang Chen
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P. R. China
- The State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power & Mechatronic Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Lican Zheng
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P. R. China
| | - Yu Xie
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P. R. China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P. R. China
| | - Sirui Liu
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P. R. China
| | - Chongjie Jiang
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P. R. China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P. R. China
| | - Tao Luo
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P. R. China
- The State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power & Mechatronic Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P. R. China
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2
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Jin G, Upreti N, Rich J, Xia J, Zhao C, Huang TJ. Acoustofluidic scanning fluorescence nanoscopy with a large field of view. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2024; 10:59. [PMID: 38736715 PMCID: PMC11081950 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-024-00683-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Large-field nanoscale fluorescence imaging is invaluable for many applications, such as imaging subcellular structures, visualizing protein interactions, and high-resolution tissue imaging. Unfortunately, conventional fluorescence microscopy requires a trade-off between resolution and field of view due to the nature of the optics used to form the image. To overcome this barrier, we developed an acoustofluidic scanning fluorescence nanoscope that simultaneously achieves superior resolution, a large field of view, and strong fluorescent signals. The acoustofluidic scanning fluorescence nanoscope utilizes the superresolution capabilities of microspheres that are controlled by a programmable acoustofluidic device for rapid fluorescence enhancement and imaging. The acoustofluidic scanning fluorescence nanoscope resolves structures that cannot be resolved with conventional fluorescence microscopes with the same objective lens and enhances the fluorescent signal by a factor of ~5 without altering the field of view of the image. The improved resolution realized with enhanced fluorescent signals and the large field of view achieved via acoustofluidic scanning fluorescence nanoscopy provides a powerful tool for versatile nanoscale fluorescence imaging for researchers in the fields of medicine, biology, biophysics, and biomedical engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geonsoo Jin
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 USA
| | - Neil Upreti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 USA
| | - Joseph Rich
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 USA
| | - Jianping Xia
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 USA
| | | | - Tony Jun Huang
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 USA
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3
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Jin G, Rich J, Xia J, Upreti N, Zhao C, Huang TJ. Acoustofluidic scanning fluorescence nanoscopy with large field of view. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3069123. [PMID: 37461478 PMCID: PMC10350121 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3069123/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Nanoscale fluorescence imaging with a large-field view is invaluable for many applications such as imaging of subcellular structures, visualizing protein interaction, and high-resolution tissue imaging. Unfortunately, conventional fluorescence microscopy has to make a trade-off between resolution and field of view due to the nature of the optics used to form an image. To overcome this barrier, we have developed an acoustofluidic scanning fluorescence nanoscope that can simultaneously achieve superior resolution, a large field of view, and enhanced fluorescent signal. The acoustofluidic scanning fluorescence nanoscope utilizes the super-resolution capability of microspheres that are controlled by a programable acoustofluidic device for rapid fluorescent enhancement and imaging. The acoustofluidic scanning fluorescence nanoscope can resolve structures that cannot be achieved with a conventional fluorescent microscope with the same objective lens and enhances the fluorescent signal by a factor of ~5 without altering the field of view of the image. The improved resolution with enhanced fluorescent signal and large field of view via the acoustofluidic scanning fluorescence nanoscope provides a powerful tool for versatile nanoscale fluorescence imaging for researchers in the fields of medicine, biology, biophysics, and biomedical engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geonsoo Jin
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Joseph Rich
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Jianping Xia
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Neil Upreti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Chenglong Zhao
- Department of Physics, University of Dayton, 300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45469, USA
- Department of Electro-Optics and Photonics, University of Dayton, 300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45469, USA
| | - Tony Jun Huang
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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4
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Mendis BL, He Z, Li X, Wang J, Li C, Li P. Acoustic Atomization-Induced Pumping Based on a Vibrating Sharp-Tip Capillary. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1212. [PMID: 37374797 DOI: 10.3390/mi14061212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Pumping is an essential component in many microfluidic applications. Developing simple, small-footprint, and flexible pumping methods is of great importance to achieve truly lab-on-a-chip systems. Here, we report a novel acoustic pump based on the atomization effect induced by a vibrating sharp-tip capillary. As the liquid is atomized by the vibrating capillary, negative pressure is generated to drive the movement of fluid without the need to fabricate special microstructures or use special channel materials. We studied the influence of the frequency, input power, internal diameter (ID) of the capillary tip, and liquid viscosity on the pumping flow rate. By adjusting the ID of the capillary from 30 µm to 80 µm and the power input from 1 Vpp to 5 Vpp, a flow rate range of 3 to 520 µL/min can be achieved. We also demonstrated the simultaneous operation of two pumps to generate parallel flow with a tunable flow rate ratio. Finally, the capability of performing complex pumping sequences was demonstrated by performing a bead-based ELISA in a 3D-printed microdevice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ziyi He
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xiaojun Li
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Chong Li
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Peng Li
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
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Vernon J, Canyelles-Pericas P, Torun H, Dai X, Ng WP, Binns R, Busawon K, Fu YQ. Acousto-Pi: An Opto-Acoustofluidic System Using Surface Acoustic Waves Controlled With Open-Source Electronics for Integrated In-Field Diagnostics. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2022; 69:411-422. [PMID: 34524958 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2021.3113173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices are increasingly applied in life sciences, biology, and point-of-care applications due to their combined acoustofluidic sensing and actuating properties. Despite the advances in this field, there remain significant gaps in interfacing hardware and control strategies to facilitate system integration with high performance and low cost. In this work, we present a versatile and digitally controlled acoustofluidic platform by demonstrating key functions for biological assays such as droplet transportation and mixing using a closed-loop feedback control with image recognition. Moreover, we integrate optical detection by demonstrating in situ fluorescence sensing capabilities with a standard camera and digital filters, bypassing the need for expensive and complex optical setups. The Acousto-Pi setup is based on open-source Raspberry Pi hardware and 3-D printed housing, and the SAW devices are fabricated with piezoelectric thin films on a metallic substrate. The platform enables the control of droplet position and speed for sample processing (mixing and dilution of samples), as well as the control of temperature based on acousto-heating, offering embedded processing capability. It can be operated remotely while recording the measurements in cloud databases toward integrated in-field diagnostic applications such as disease outbreak control, mass healthcare screening, and food safety.
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Thurgood P, Concilia G, Tran N, Nguyen N, Hawke AJ, Pirogova E, Jex AR, Peter K, Baratchi S, Khoshmanesh K. Generation of programmable dynamic flow patterns in microfluidics using audio signals. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:4672-4684. [PMID: 34739024 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00568e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Customised audio signals, such as musical notes, can be readily generated by audio software on smartphones and played over audio speakers. Audio speakers translate electrical signals into the mechanical motion of the speaker cone. Coupling the inlet tube to the speaker cone causes the harmonic oscillation of the tube, which in turn changes the velocity profile and flow rate. We employ this strategy for generating programmable dynamic flow patterns in microfluidics. We show the generation of customised rib and vortex patterns through the application of multi-tone audio signals in water-based and whole blood samples. We demonstrate the precise capability to control the number and extent of the ribs and vortices by simply setting the frequency ratio of two- and three-tone audio signals. We exemplify potential applications of tube oscillation for studying the functional responses of circulating immune cells under pathophysiological shear rates. The system is programmable, compact, low-cost, biocompatible, and durable. These features make it suitable for a variety of applications across chemistry, biology, and physics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Thurgood
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | | | - Nhiem Tran
- School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ngan Nguyen
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Adam J Hawke
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Elena Pirogova
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Aaron R Jex
- Population Health and Immunity Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Karlheinz Peter
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Cardiometabolic Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sara Baratchi
- School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
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7
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Zhao S, Huang PH, Zhang H, Rich J, Bachman H, Ye J, Zhang W, Chen C, Xie Z, Tian Z, Kang P, Fu H, Huang TJ. Fabrication of tunable, high-molecular-weight polymeric nanoparticles via ultrafast acoustofluidic micromixing. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:2453-2463. [PMID: 33978043 PMCID: PMC8213440 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00265a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
High-molecular-weight polymeric nanoparticles are critical to increasing the loading efficacy and tuning the release profile of targeted molecules for medical diagnosis, imaging, and therapeutics. Although a number of microfluidic approaches have attained reproducible nanoparticle synthesis, it is still challenging to fabricate nanoparticles from high-molecular-weight polymers in a size and structure-controlled manner. In this work, an acoustofluidic platform is developed to synthesize size-tunable, high-molecular-weight (>45 kDa) poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA-PEG) nanoparticles without polymer aggregation by exploiting the characteristics of complete and ultrafast mixing. Moreover, the acoustofluidic approach achieves two features that have not been achieved by existing microfluidic approaches: (1) multi-step (≥2) sequential nanoprecipitation in a single device, and (2) synthesis of core-shell structured PLGA-PEG/lipid nanoparticles with high molecular weights. The developed platform expands microfluidic potential in nanomaterial synthesis, where high-molecular-weight polymers, multiple reagents, or sequential nanoprecipitations are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuaiguo Zhao
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Po-Hsun Huang
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Heying Zhang
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Joseph Rich
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Hunter Bachman
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Jennifer Ye
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Wenfen Zhang
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Chuyi Chen
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Zhemiao Xie
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Zhenhua Tian
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Putong Kang
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Hai Fu
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Tony Jun Huang
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
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8
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Huang A, Connacher W, Stambaugh M, Zhang N, Zhang S, Mei J, Jain A, Alluri S, Leung V, Rajapaksa AE, Friend J. Practical microcircuits for handheld acoustofluidics. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:1352-1363. [PMID: 33565534 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc01008a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Acoustofluidics has promised to enable lab-on-a-chip and point-of-care devices in ways difficult to achieve using other methods. Piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers-as small as the chips they actuate-provide rapid fluid and suspended object transport. Acoustofluidic lab-on-chip devices offer a vast range of benefits in early disease identification and noninvasive drug delivery. However, their potential has long been undermined by the need for benchtop or rack-mount electronics. The piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers within require these equipment and thus acoustofluidic device implementation in a bedside setting has been limited. Here we detail a general process to enable the reader to produce battery or mains-powered microcircuits ideal for driving 1-300 MHz acoustic devices. We include the general design strategy for the circuit, the blocks that collectively define it, and suitable, specific choices for components to produce these blocks. We furthermore illustrate how to incorporate automated resonance finding and tracking, sensing and feedback, and built-in adjustability to accommodate devices' vastly different operating frequencies and powers in a single driver, including examples of fluid and particle manipulation typical of the needs in our discipline. With this in hand, the many groups active in lab-on-a-chip acoustofluidics can now finally deliver on the promise of handheld, point-of-care technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- An Huang
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. http://friend.ucsd.edu
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9
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Xie Y, Rufo J, Zhong R, Rich J, Li P, Leong KW, Huang TJ. Microfluidic Isolation and Enrichment of Nanoparticles. ACS NANO 2020; 14:16220-16240. [PMID: 33252215 PMCID: PMC8164652 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c06336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decades, nanoparticles have increased in implementation to a variety of applications ranging from high-efficiency electronics to targeted drug delivery. Recently, microfluidic techniques have become an important tool to isolate and enrich populations of nanoparticles with uniform properties (e.g., size, shape, charge) due to their precision, versatility, and scalability. However, due to the large number of microfluidic techniques available, it can be challenging to identify the most suitable approach for isolating or enriching a nanoparticle of interest. In this review article, we survey microfluidic methods for nanoparticle isolation and enrichment based on their underlying mechanisms, including acoustofluidics, dielectrophoresis, filtration, deterministic lateral displacement, inertial microfluidics, optofluidics, electrophoresis, and affinity-based methods. We discuss the principles, applications, advantages, and limitations of each method. We also provide comparisons with bulk methods, perspectives for future developments and commercialization, and next-generation applications in chemistry, biology, and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuliang Xie
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Joseph Rufo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Ruoyu Zhong
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Joseph Rich
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Peng Li
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, United States
| | - Kam W Leong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Tony Jun Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
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Zhang C, Guo X, Royon L, Brunet P. Unveiling of the mechanisms of acoustic streaming induced by sharp edges. Phys Rev E 2020; 102:043110. [PMID: 33212576 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.102.043110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Acoustic waves can generate steady streaming within a fluid owing to the generation of viscous boundary layers near walls of typical thickness δ. In microchannels, the acoustic wavelength λ is adjusted to twice the channel width w to ensure a resonance condition, which implies the use of MHz transducers. Recently, though, intense acoustic streaming was generated by acoustic waves of a few kHz (hence with λ≫w), owing to the presence of sharp-tipped structures of curvature radius at the tip r_{c} smaller than δ. The present study quantitatively investigates this sharp-edge acoustic streaming via the direct resolution of the full Navier-Stokes equation using the finite element method. The influence of δ,r_{c}, and viscosity ν on the acoustic streaming performance is quantified. Our results suggest choices of operating conditions and geometrical parameters, in particular the dimensionless tip radius of curvature r_{c}/δ and the liquid viscosity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanyu Zhang
- Université de Paris, LIED, UMR 8236, CNRS, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Xiaofeng Guo
- Université de Paris, LIED, UMR 8236, CNRS, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Laurent Royon
- Université de Paris, LIED, UMR 8236, CNRS, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Philippe Brunet
- Université de Paris, MSC, UMR 7057, CNRS, F-75013 Paris, France
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Zhang C, Guo X, Royon L, Brunet P. Acoustic Streaming Generated by Sharp Edges: The Coupled Influences of Liquid Viscosity and Acoustic Frequency. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:E607. [PMID: 32580511 PMCID: PMC7345500 DOI: 10.3390/mi11060607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Acoustic streaming can be generated around sharp structures, even when the acoustic wavelength is much larger than the vessel size. This sharp-edge streaming can be relatively intense, owing to the strongly focused inertial effect experienced by the acoustic flow near the tip. We conducted experiments with particle image velocimetry to quantify this streaming flow through the influence of liquid viscosity ν , from 1 mm 2 /s to 30 mm 2 /s, and acoustic frequency f from 500 Hz to 3500 Hz. Both quantities supposedly influence the thickness of the viscous boundary layer δ = ν π f 1 / 2 . For all situations, the streaming flow appears as a main central jet from the tip, generating two lateral vortices beside the tip and outside the boundary layer. As a characteristic streaming velocity, the maximal velocity is located at a distance of δ from the tip, and it increases as the square of the acoustic velocity. We then provide empirical scaling laws to quantify the influence of ν and f on the streaming velocity. Globally, the streaming velocity is dramatically weakened by a higher viscosity, whereas the flow pattern and the disturbance distance remain similar regardless of viscosity. Besides viscosity, the frequency also strongly influences the maximal streaming velocity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanyu Zhang
- Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Energies de Demain, Université de Paris, UMR 8236 CNRS, F-75013 Paris, France; (X.G.); (L.R.)
| | - Xiaofeng Guo
- Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Energies de Demain, Université de Paris, UMR 8236 CNRS, F-75013 Paris, France; (X.G.); (L.R.)
- ESIEE Paris, Université Gustave Eiffel, F-93162 Noisy le Grand, France
| | - Laurent Royon
- Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Energies de Demain, Université de Paris, UMR 8236 CNRS, F-75013 Paris, France; (X.G.); (L.R.)
| | - Philippe Brunet
- Laboratoire Matière et Systèmes Complexes, Université de Paris, UMR 7057 CNRS, F-75013 Paris, France
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12
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Raza W, Hossain S, Kim KY. A Review of Passive Micromixers with a Comparative Analysis. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:mi11050455. [PMID: 32349452 PMCID: PMC7281436 DOI: 10.3390/mi11050455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
A wide range of existing passive micromixers are reviewed, and quantitative analyses of ten typical passive micromixers were performed to compare their mixing indices, pressure drops, and mixing costs under the same axial length and flow conditions across a wide Reynolds number range of 0.01–120. The tested micromixers were selected from five types of micromixer designs. The analyses of flow and mixing were performed using continuity, Navier-Stokes and convection-diffusion equations. The results of the comparative analysis were presented for three different Reynolds number ranges: low-Re (Re ≤ 1), intermediate-Re (1 < Re ≤ 40), and high-Re (Re > 40) ranges, where the mixing mechanisms are different. The results show a two-dimensional micromixer of Tesla structure is recommended in the intermediate- and high-Re ranges, while two three-dimensional micromixers with two layers are recommended in the low-Re range due to their excellent mixing performance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kwang-Yong Kim
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-32-872-3096; Fax: +82-32-868-1716
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13
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Bachman H, Gu Y, Rufo J, Yang S, Tian Z, Huang PH, Yu L, Huang TJ. Low-frequency flexural wave based microparticle manipulation. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:1281-1289. [PMID: 32154525 PMCID: PMC7392613 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00072h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Manipulation of microparticles and bio-samples is a critical task in many research and clinical settings. Recently, acoustic based methods have garnered significant attention due to their relatively simple designs, and biocompatible and precise manipulation of small objects. Herein, we introduce a flexural wave based acoustofluidic manipulation platform that utilizes low-frequency (4-6 kHz) commercial buzzers to achieve dynamic particle concentration and translation in an open fluid well. The device has two primary modes of functionality, wherein particles can be concentrated in pressure nodes that are present on the bottom surface of the device, or particles can be trapped and manipulated in streaming vortices within the fluid domain; both of these functions result from flexural mode vibrations that travel from the transducers throughout the device. Throughout our research, we numerically and experimentally explored the wave patterns generated within the device, investigated the particle concentration phenomenon, and utilized a phase difference between the two transducers to achieve precision movement of fluid vortices and the entrapped particle clusters. With its simple, low-cost nature and open fluidic chamber design, this platform can be useful in many biological, biochemical, and biomedical applications, such as tumor spheroid generation and culture, as well as the manipulation of embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hunter Bachman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
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14
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Bachman H, Chen C, Rufo J, Zhao S, Yang S, Tian Z, Nama N, Huang PH, Huang TJ. An acoustofluidic device for efficient mixing over a wide range of flow rates. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:1238-1248. [PMID: 32104816 PMCID: PMC7252412 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc01171d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Whether reagents and samples need to be combined to achieve a desired reaction, or precise concentrations of solutions need to be mixed and delivered downstream, thorough mixing remains a critical step in many microfluidics-based biological and chemical assays and analyses. To achieve complete mixing of fluids in microfluidic devices, researchers have utilized novel channel designs or active intervention to facilitate mass transport and exchange of fluids. However, many of these solutions have a major limitation: their design inherently limits their operational throughput; that is, different designs work at specific flow rates, whether that be low or high ranges, but have difficulties outside of their tailored design regimes. In this work, we present an acoustofluidic mixer that is capable of achieving efficient, thorough mixing across a broad range of flow rates (20-2000 μL min-1) using a single device. Our mixer combines active acoustofluidic mixing, which is responsible for mixing fluids at lower flow rates, with passive hydrodynamic mixing, which accounts for mixing fluids at higher flow rates. The mechanism, functionality, and performance of our acoustofluidic device are both numerically and experimentally validated. Additionally, the real-world potential of our device is demonstrated by synthesizing polymeric nanoparticles with comparable sizes over a two-order-of-magnitude wide range of flow rates. This device can be valuable in many biochemical, biological, and biomedical applications. For example, using our platform, one may synthesize nanoparticles/nanomaterials at lower flow rates to first identify optimal synthesis conditions without having to waste significant amounts of reagents, and then increase the flow rate to perform high-throughput synthesis using the optimal conditions, all using the same single device and maintaining performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hunter Bachman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
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15
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Zhang L, Tian Z, Bachman H, Zhang P, Huang TJ. A Cell-Phone-Based Acoustofluidic Platform for Quantitative Point-of-Care Testing. ACS NANO 2020; 14:3159-3169. [PMID: 32119517 PMCID: PMC7335639 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b08349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Acoustofluidic methods, with advantages including simplicity of device design, biocompatible manipulation, and low power consumption, have been touted as promising tools for point-of-care (POC) testing. Here, we report a cell-phone-based acoustofluidic platform that uses acoustic radiation forces to enrich nanoscale analytes and red and green fluorescence nanoparticles (SiO2@R and G@SiO2) as probes for POC visual testing. Thus, the color signals from the fluorescent probes are enhanced, and colorimetric sensitivity is significantly improved. As a POC demonstration, the acoustofluidic platform is used to detect hemoglobin (Hb) from human blood, resulting in a rapid and straightforward measurement of normal blood Hb levels. Combining an acoustofluidic-based nanoparticle-concentration platform with cell-phone-based colorimetry, our method introduces a potential pathway toward practical POC testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liying Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Zhenhua Tian
- Department of Aerospace Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762, United States
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Hunter Bachman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Peiran Zhang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Tony Jun Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
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16
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Li X, Huffman J, Ranganathan N, He Z, Li P. Acoustofluidic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) platform enabled by coupled acoustic streaming. Anal Chim Acta 2019; 1079:129-138. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2019.05.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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17
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Rasouli MR, Tabrizian M. An ultra-rapid acoustic micromixer for synthesis of organic nanoparticles. LAB ON A CHIP 2019; 19:3316-3325. [PMID: 31495858 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc00637k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Mixing is a crucial step in many chemical analyses and synthesis processes, particularly in nanoparticle formation, where it determines the nucleation rate, homogeneity, and physicochemical characteristics of the products. In this study, we propose an energy-efficient acoustic platform based on boundary-driven acoustic streaming, which provides the rapid mixing required to control nanoprecipitation. The device encompasses oscillatory bubbles and sharp edges in the microchannel to transform the acoustic energy into vigorous vortical fluid motions. The combination of bubbles and sharp edges at their immediate proximity induced substantially stronger acoustic microstreams than the simple superposition of their effects. The device could effectively homogenize DI water and fluorescein within a mixing length of 25.2 μm up to a flow rate of 116 μL min-1 at a driving voltage of 40 Vpp, corresponding to a mixing time of 0.8 ms. This rapid mixing was employed to mitigate some complexities in nanoparticle synthesis, namely controlling nanoprecipitation and size, batch to batch variation, synthesis throughput, and clogging. Both polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes were synthesized in this platform and showed a smaller effective size and narrower size distribution in comparison to those obtained by a hydrodynamic flow focusing method. Through changing the mixing time, the effective size of the nanoparticles could be fine-tuned for both polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes. The rapid mixing and strong vortices prevent aggregation of nanoparticles, leading to a substantially higher throughput of liposomes in comparison with that by the hydrodynamic flow focusing method. The straightforward fabrication process of the system coupled with low power consumption, high-controllability, and rapid mixing time renders this mixer a practical platform for a myriad of nano and biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Reza Rasouli
- Biomedical Engineering Department-Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada.
| | - Maryam Tabrizian
- Biomedical Engineering Department-Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada. and Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada
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18
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Huang P, Zhao S, Bachman H, Nama N, Li Z, Chen C, Yang S, Wu M, Zhang SP, Huang TJ. Acoustofluidic Synthesis of Particulate Nanomaterials. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2019; 6:1900913. [PMID: 31592417 PMCID: PMC6774021 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201900913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Synthesis of nanoparticles and particulate nanomaterials with tailored properties is a central step toward many applications ranging from energy conversion and imaging/display to biosensing and nanomedicine. While existing microfluidics-based synthesis methods offer precise control over the synthesis process, most of them rely on passive, partial mixing of reagents, which limits their applicability and potentially, adversely alter the properties of synthesized products. Here, an acoustofluidic (i.e., the fusion of acoustic and microfluidics) synthesis platform is reported to synthesize nanoparticles and nanomaterials in a controllable, reproducible manner through acoustic-streaming-based active mixing of reagents. The acoustofluidic strategy allows for the dynamic control of the reaction conditions simply by adjusting the strength of the acoustic streaming. With this platform, the synthesis of versatile nanoparticles/nanomaterials is demonstrated including the synthesis of polymeric nanoparticles, chitosan nanoparticles, organic-inorganic hybrid nanomaterials, metal-organic framework biocomposites, and lipid-DNA complexes. The acoustofluidic synthesis platform, when incorporated with varying flow rates, compositions, or concentrations of reagents, will lend itself unprecedented flexibility in establishing various reaction conditions and thus enable the synthesis of versatile nanoparticles and nanomaterials with prescribed properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po‐Hsun Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials ScienceDuke UniversityDurhamNC27708USA
| | - Shuaiguo Zhao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials ScienceDuke UniversityDurhamNC27708USA
| | - Hunter Bachman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials ScienceDuke UniversityDurhamNC27708USA
| | - Nitesh Nama
- Department of Engineering Science and MechanicsPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPA16802USA
| | - Zhishang Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials ScienceDuke UniversityDurhamNC27708USA
| | - Chuyi Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials ScienceDuke UniversityDurhamNC27708USA
| | - Shujie Yang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials ScienceDuke UniversityDurhamNC27708USA
| | - Mengxi Wu
- Department of Engineering Science and MechanicsPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPA16802USA
| | - Steven Peiran Zhang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials ScienceDuke UniversityDurhamNC27708USA
| | - Tony Jun Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials ScienceDuke UniversityDurhamNC27708USA
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19
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Abstract
Cellular analysis is a central concept for both biology and medicine. Over the past two decades, acoustofluidic technologies, which marry acoustic waves with microfluidics, have significantly contributed to the development of innovative approaches for cellular analysis. Acoustofluidic technologies enable precise manipulations of cells and the fluids that confine them, and these capabilities have been utilized in many cell analysis applications. In this review article, we examine various applications where acoustofluidic methods have been implemented, including cell imaging, cell mechanotyping, circulating tumor cell phenotyping, sample preparation in clinics, and investigation of cell-cell interactions and cell-environment responses. We also provide our perspectives on the technological advantages, limitations, and potential future directions for this innovative field of methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuliang Xie
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Hunter Bachman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27707, USA
| | - Tony Jun Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27707, USA
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20
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Bachman H, Fu H, Huang PH, Tian Z, Embry-Seckler J, Rufo J, Xie Z, Hartman JH, Zhao S, Yang S, Meyer JN, Huang TJ. Open source acoustofluidics. LAB ON A CHIP 2019; 19:2404-2414. [PMID: 31240285 PMCID: PMC6934416 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc00340a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Over the past several decades, a litany of acoustofluidic devices have been developed which purport to have significant advantages over traditional benchtop analytical tools. These acoustofluidic devices are frequently labeled as "labs-on-chips"; however, many do an insufficient job of limiting their dependence on the lab. Often, acoustofluidic devices still require skilled operators and complex external equipment. In an effort to address these shortcomings, we developed a low-cost, expandable, and multifunctional system for controlling acoustofluidic devices in the audible to low ultrasonic frequency range (31 Hz to 65 kHz). The system was designed around the readily available Arduino prototyping platform because of its user-friendly coding environment and expansive network of open source material; these factors enabled us to create a system capable of generating high voltage oscillatory signals and controlling microscale flows in acoustofluidic devices. Utilizing the established open source system, we achieved a series of acoustofluidic applications involving the manipulation of fluids and biological objects in a portable fashion. In particular, we used our open source acoustofluidic devices to achieve active rotation of cells and microorganisms, and operation of an acoustofluidic mixing device which has previously shown potential for viscous sample preparation, in a portable fashion. Additionally, using low frequency flexural waves and our portable system, we achieved acoustofluidic separation of particles based on size. It is our hope that the open source platform presented here can pave the way for future acoustofluidic devices to be used at the point-of-care, as well as simplify the operation of these devices to enable resource limited users to leverage the benefits of acoustofluidics in their work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hunter Bachman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Hai Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA. and Department of Fluid Control and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China
| | - Po-Hsun Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Zhenhua Tian
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Jonah Embry-Seckler
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Joseph Rufo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Zhemiao Xie
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Jessica H Hartman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Shuaiguo Zhao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Shujie Yang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Joel N Meyer
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Tony Jun Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
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21
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Wu Z, Cai H, Ao Z, Nunez A, Liu H, Bondesson M, Guo S, Guo F. A Digital Acoustofluidic Pump Powered by Localized Fluid-Substrate Interactions. Anal Chem 2019; 91:7097-7103. [PMID: 31083981 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b00069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The precise transportation of small-volume liquids in microfluidic and nanofluidic systems remains a challenge for many applications, such as clinical fluidical analysis. Here, we present a reliable digital pump that utilizes acoustic streaming induced by localized fluid-substrate interactions. By locally generating streaming via a C-shaped interdigital transducer (IDT) within a triangle-edged microchannel, our acoustofluidic pump can generate a stable unidirectional flow (∼nanoliter per second flow rate) with a precise digital regulation (∼second response time), and it is capable of handling aqueous solutions (e.g., PBS buffer) as well as high viscosity liquids (e.g., human blood) with a nanoliter-scale volume. Along with our acoustofluidic pump's low cost, programmability, and capacity to control small-volumes at high precision, it could be widely used for point-of-care diagnostics, precise drug delivery, and fundamental biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuhao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology , Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072 , China.,Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering , Indiana University , Bloomington , Indiana 47405 , United States
| | - Hongwei Cai
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering , Indiana University , Bloomington , Indiana 47405 , United States
| | - Zheng Ao
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering , Indiana University , Bloomington , Indiana 47405 , United States
| | - Asael Nunez
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering , Indiana University , Bloomington , Indiana 47405 , United States
| | - Hongcheng Liu
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida 32611 , United States
| | - Maria Bondesson
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering , Indiana University , Bloomington , Indiana 47405 , United States
| | - Shishang Guo
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology , Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072 , China
| | - Feng Guo
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering , Indiana University , Bloomington , Indiana 47405 , United States
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22
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Zhang J, Yang S, Chen C, Hartman JH, Huang PH, Wang L, Tian Z, Zhang P, Faulkenberry D, Meyer JN, Huang TJ. Surface acoustic waves enable rotational manipulation of Caenorhabditis elegans. LAB ON A CHIP 2019; 19:984-992. [PMID: 30768117 PMCID: PMC6659422 DOI: 10.1039/c8lc01012a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Controllable, precise, and stable rotational manipulation of model organisms is valuable in many biomedical, bioengineering, and biophysics applications. We present an acoustofluidic chip capable of rotating Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) in both static and continuous flow in a controllable manner. Rotational manipulation was achieved by exposing C. elegans to a surface acoustic wave (SAW) field that generated a vortex distribution inside a microchannel. By selectively activating interdigital transducers, we achieved bidirectional rotation of C. elegans, namely counterclockwise and clockwise, with on-demand switching of rotation direction in a single chip. In addition to continuous rotation, we also rotated C. elegans in a step-wise fashion with a step angle as small as 4° by pulsing the signal duration of SAW from a continuous signal to a pulsed signal down to 1.5 ms. Using this device, we have clearly imaged the dopaminergic neurons of C. elegans with pdat-1:GFP expression, as well as the vulval muscles and muscle fibers of the worm with myo-3::GFP fusion protein expression in different orientations and three dimensions. These achievements are difficult to realize through conventional (i.e., non-confocal) microscopy. The SAW manipulations did not detectably affect the health of the model organisms. With its precision, controllability, and simplicity in fabrication and operation, our acoustofluidic devices will be well-suited for model organism studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinxin Zhang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
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23
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Zhao S, He W, Ma Z, Liu P, Huang PH, Bachman H, Wang L, Yang S, Tian Z, Wang Z, Gu Y, Xie Z, Huang TJ. On-chip stool liquefaction via acoustofluidics. LAB ON A CHIP 2019; 19:941-947. [PMID: 30702741 PMCID: PMC6626638 DOI: 10.1039/c8lc01310a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic-based portable devices for stool analysis are important for detecting established biomarkers for gastrointestinal disorders and understanding the relationship between gut microbiota imbalances and various health conditions, ranging from digestive disorders to neurodegenerative diseases. However, the challenge of processing stool samples in microfluidic devices hinders the development of a standalone platform. Here, we present the first microfluidic chip that can liquefy stool samples via acoustic streaming. With an acoustic transducer actively generating strong micro-vortex streaming, stool samples and buffers in microchannel can be homogenized at a flow rate up to 30 μL min-1. After homogenization, an array of 100 μm wide micropillars can further purify stool samples by filtering out large debris. A favorable biocompatibility was also demonstrated for our acoustofluidic-based stool liquefaction chip by examining bacteria morphology and viability. Moreover, stool samples with different consistencies were liquefied. Our acoustofluidic chip offers a miniaturized, robust, and biocompatible solution for stool sample preparation in a microfluidic environment and can be potentially integrated with stool analysis units for designing portable stool diagnostics platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuaiguo Zhao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
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24
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Abstract
Acoustics has a broad spectrum of applications, ranging from noise cancelation to ultrasonic imaging. In the past decade, there has been increasing interest in developing acoustic-based methods for biological and biomedical applications. This Perspective summarizes the recent progress in applying acoustofluidic methods (i.e., the fusion of acoustics and microfluidics) to bioanalytical chemistry. We describe the concepts of acoustofluidics and how it can be tailored to different types of bioanalytical applications, including sample concentration, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, label-free cell/particle separation, and fluid manipulation. Examples of each application are given, and the benefits and limitations of these methods are discussed. Finally, our perspectives on the directions that developing solutions should take to address the bottlenecks in the acoustofluidic applications in bioanalytical chemistry are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Li
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, United States
| | - Tony Jun Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
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25
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Wu J, Lin JM. Microfluidic Technology for Single-Cell Capture and Isolation. MICROFLUIDICS FOR SINGLE-CELL ANALYSIS 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-32-9729-6_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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26
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Huang PH, Chan CY, Li P, Wang Y, Nama N, Bachman H, Huang TJ. A sharp-edge-based acoustofluidic chemical signal generator. LAB ON A CHIP 2018; 18:1411-1421. [PMID: 29668002 PMCID: PMC6064650 DOI: 10.1039/c8lc00193f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Resolving the temporal dynamics of cell signaling pathways is essential for regulating numerous downstream functions, from gene expression to cellular responses. Mapping these signaling pathways requires the exposure of cells to time-varying chemical signals; these are difficult to generate and control over a wide temporal range. Herein, we present an acoustofluidic chemical signal generator based on a sharp-edge-based micromixing strategy. The device, simply by modulating the driving signals of an acoustic transducer including the ON/OFF switching frequency, actuation time and duty cycle, is capable of generating both single-pulse and periodic chemical signals that are temporally controllable in terms of stimulation period, stimulation duration and duty cycle. We also demonstrate the device's applicability and versatility for cell signaling studies by probing the calcium (Ca2+) release dynamics of three different types of cells stimulated by ionomycin signals of different shapes. Upon short single-pulse ionomycin stimulation (∼100 ms) generated by our device, we discover that cells tend to dynamically adjust the intracellular level of Ca2+ through constantly releasing and accepting Ca2+ to the cytoplasm and from the extracellular environment, respectively. With advantages such as simple fabrication and operation, compact device design, and reliability and versatility, our device will enable decoding of the temporal characteristics of signaling dynamics for various physiological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po-Hsun Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
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