Manipulation and microrheology of carbon nanotubes with laser-induced cavitation bubbles

A microfluidics vapor-membrane-valve generated by laser irradiation on carbon nanocoils

We have investigated a micro vapor membrane valve (MVMV) for closing the microfluidic channels by laser irradiation on carbon nanocoils (CNCs) attached to the inner wall of the microchannels. The microchannel with MVMVs was found to exhibit a "closed" state without the supply of laser energy, which is explained on the basis of the theory of heat and mass transfer. Multiple MVMVs for sealing the channels can be generated in sequence and exist simultaneously at different irradiation sites, independently. The significant advantages of the MVMV generated by the laser irradiation on CNCs are the elimination of extrinsic energy required to maintain the microfluidic channel "closed" state and the simplification of the structure integrated into the microfluidic channels and fluid control circuitries. The CNC-based MVMV is a powerful tool for the investigations of the functions of microchannel switching and sealing on microfluidic chips in biomedicine, chemical analysis and other fields. The study of MVMVs will have great significance for biochemical and cytological analysis.

Nanoparticle-Mediated Cavitation via CO2 Laser Impacting on Water: Concentration Effect, Temperature Visualization, and Core-Shell Structures

By taking advantage of seeded polymer nanoparticles and strong photo energy absorption, we report CO₂ laser impacting on water to produce cavitation at the air/water interface. Using a high-speed camera, three regimes (no cavitation, cavitation, and pseudo-cavitation) are identified within a broad range of nanoparticles concentration and size. The underlying correlation among cavitation, nanoparticles and temperature is revealed by the direct observation of spatiotemporal evolution of temperature using a thermal cameral. These findings indicate that nanoparticles not only act as preexisted nuclei to promote nucleation for cavitation, but also likely affect temperature to change the nucleation rate as well. Moreover, by exploiting a compound hexane/water interface, a novel core-shell cavitation is demonstrated. This approach might be utilized to attain and control cavitations by choosing nanoparticles and designing interfaces while operating at a lower laser intensity, for versatile technological applications in material science and medical surgery.

Minireview: Laser-Induced Formation of Microbubbles-Biomedical Implications

Recent work is summarized that shows how microbubbles may have potential utility in biomedical situations as (i) highly localized generators of intense white light in an aqueous environment, (ii) disruptors of matter in aqueous solution, (iii) essential precursors in laser-writing structures on substrates on which biological cells can be spatially aligned, and (iv) mediators in the fabrication of hierarchical nanostructures that enhance signals in biological Raman spectroscopy. Indeed, microbubbles generated upon laser irradiation of surfaces have many more ramifications than originally thought, with implications in the laser modification of surfaces producing either hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity. Many more possibilities remain to be explored and exploited.

Characterization of periodic cavitation in optical tweezers

Microscopic vapor explosions or cavitation bubbles can be generated repeatedly in optical tweezers with a microparticle that partially absorbs at the trapping laser wavelength. In this work we measure the size distribution and the production rate of cavitation bubbles for microparticles with a diameter of 3 μm using high-speed video recording and a fast photodiode. We find that there is a lower bound for the maximum bubble radius R(max)∼2  μm which can be explained in terms of the microparticle size. More than 94% of the measured R(max) are in the range between 2 and 6 μm, while the same percentage of the measured individual frequencies f(i) or production rates are between 10 and 200 Hz. The photodiode signal yields an upper bound for the lifetime of the bubbles, which is at most twice the value predicted by the Rayleigh equation. We also report empirical relations between R(max), f(i), and the bubble lifetimes.

Cell membrane deformation and bioeffects produced by tandem bubble-induced jetting flow

Cavitation with bubble-bubble interaction is a fundamental feature in therapeutic ultrasound. However, the causal relationships between bubble dynamics, associated flow motion, cell deformation, and resultant bioeffects are not well elucidated. Here, we report an experimental system for tandem bubble (TB; maximum diameter = 50 ± 2 μm) generation, jet formation, and subsequent interaction with single HeLa cells patterned on fibronectin-coated islands (32 × 32 μm) in a microfluidic chip. We have demonstrated that pinpoint membrane poration can be produced at the leading edge of the HeLa cell in standoff distance Sd ≤ 30 μm, driven by the transient shear stress associated with TB-induced jetting flow. The cell membrane deformation associated with a maximum strain rate on the order of 10(4) s(-1) was heterogeneous. The maximum area strain ([Formula: see text]) decreased exponentially with Sd (also influenced by adhesion pattern), a feature that allows us to create distinctly different treatment outcome (i.e., necrosis, repairable poration, or nonporation) in individual cells. More importantly, our results suggest that membrane poration and cell survival are better correlated with area strain integral ([Formula: see text]) instead of [Formula: see text], which is characteristic of the response of materials under high strain-rate loadings. For 50% cell survival the corresponding area strain integral was found to vary in the range of 56 ∼ 123 μs with [Formula: see text] in the range of 57 ∼ 87%. Finally, significant variations in individual cell's response were observed at the same Sd, indicating the potential for using this method to probe mechanotransduction at the single cell level.

Dynamic behaviors of approximately ellipsoidal microbubbles photothermally generated by a graphene oxide-microheater

Thermal microbubbles generally grow directly from the heater and are spherical to minimize surface tension. We demonstrate a novel type of microbubble indirectly generated from a graphene oxide-microheater. Graphene oxide's photothermal properties allowed for efficient generation of a thermal gradient field on the microscale. A series of approximately ellipsoidal microbubbles were generated on the smooth microwire based on heterogeneous nucleation. Other dynamic behaviors induced by the microheater such as constant growth, directional transport and coalescence were also investigated experimentally and theoretically. The results are not only helpful for understanding the bubble dynamics but also useful for developing novel photothermal bubble-based devices.

Graphene oxide-deposited microfiber: a new photothermal device for various microbubble generation

This study makes a claim of utilizing the photothermal effect of graphene oxide nanosheets (GONs) to effectively produce various microbubbles in an optical microfiber system at infrared optical communications band. A low power continuous-wave light at wavelength of 1527-1566 nm was launched into the microfiber to form GONs-deposition which acted as a linear heat source for creating various microbubbles. Both thermal convection flow and optical gradient force were responsible for the driving force to assemble GONs onto the microfiber. This simple optical fiber system can be used for assembling other micro/nanoscale particles and biomolecules, which has prospective applications in sensing, microfluidics, virus detection, and other biochip techniques.

3D pulsed laser-triggered high-speed microfluidic fluorescence-activated cell sorter

We report a 3D microfluidic pulsed laser-triggered fluorescence-activated cell sorter capable of sorting at a throughput of 23 000 cells per s with 90% purity in high-purity mode and at a throughput of 45 000 cells per s with 45% purity in enrichment mode in one stage and in a single channel. This performance is realized by exciting laser-induced cavitation bubbles in a 3D PDMS microfluidic channel to generate high-speed liquid jets that deflect detected fluorescent cells and particles focused by 3D sheath flows. The ultrafast switching mechanism (20 μs complete on-off cycle), small liquid jet perturbation volume, and three-dimensional sheath flow focusing for accurate timing control of fast (1.5 m s(-1)) passing cells and particles are three critical factors enabling high-purity sorting at high-throughput in this sorter.

Competing mechanisms and scaling laws for carbon nanotube scission by ultrasonication

Dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into liquids typically requires ultrasonication to exfoliate individuals CNTs from bundles. Experiments show that CNT length drops with sonication time (or energy) as a power law t(-m). Yet the breakage mechanism is not well understood, and the experimentally reported power law exponent m ranges from approximately 0.2 to 0.5. Here we simulate the motion of CNTs around cavitating bubbles by coupling brownian dynamics with the Rayleigh-Plesset equation. We observe that, during bubble growth, CNTs align tangentially to the bubble surface. Surprisingly, we find two dynamical regimes during the collapse: shorter CNTs align radially, longer ones buckle. We compute the phase diagram for CNT collapse dynamics as a function of CNT length, stiffness, and initial distance from the bubble nuclei and determine the transition from aligning to buckling. We conclude that, depending on their length, CNTs can break due to either buckling or stretching. These two mechanisms yield different power laws for the length decay (0.25 and 0.5, respectively), reconciling the apparent discrepancy in the experimental data.

Scanning laser pulses driven microfluidic peristaltic membrane pump

We reported a pulsed laser driven peristaltic pump for driving fluid in multilayer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannels. By synchronizing the dynamics of deforming membrane valves with pulsed laser generated bubbles, a maximum pumping rate of 460 pl s(-1) has been achieved.

Dynamics of primary and secondary microbubbles created by laser-induced breakdown of an optically trapped nanoparticle

Laser-induced breakdown of an optically trapped nanoparticle is a unique system for studying cavitation dynamics. It offers additional degrees of freedom, namely the nanoparticle material, its size, and the relative position between the laser focus and the center of the optically trapped nanoparticle. We quantify the spatial and temporal dynamics of the cavitation and secondary bubbles created in this system and use hydrodynamic modeling to quantify the observed dynamic shear stress of the expanding bubble. In the final stage of bubble collapse, we visualize the formation of multiple submicrometer secondary bubbles around the toroidal bubble on the substrate. We show that the pattern of the secondary bubbles typically has its circular symmetry broken along an axis whose unique angle rotates over time. This is a result of vorticity along the jet towards the boundary upon bubble collapse near solid boundaries.

Dynamics of tandem bubble interaction in a microfluidic channel

The dynamics of tandem bubble interaction in a microfluidic channel (800  ×  21 μm, W × H) have been investigated using high-speed photography, with resultant fluid motion characterized by particle imaging velocimetry. A single or tandem bubble is produced reliably via laser absorption by micron-sized gold dots (6 μm in diameter with 40 μm in separation distance) coated on a glass surface of the microfluidic channel. Using two pulsed Nd:YAG lasers at λ = 1064 nm and ∼10 μJ/pulse, the dynamics of tandem bubble interaction (individual maximum bubble diameter of 50 μm with a corresponding collapse time of 5.7 μs) are examined at different phase delays. In close proximity (i.e., interbubble distance = 40 μm or γ = 0.8), the tandem bubbles interact strongly with each other, leading to asymmetric deformation of the bubble walls and jet formation, as well as the production of two pairs of vortices in the surrounding fluid rotating in opposite directions. The direction and speed of the jet (up to 95 m/s), as well as the orientation and strength of the vortices can be varied by adjusting the phase delay.

Fast on-demand droplet fusion using transient cavitation bubbles

A method for on-demand droplet fusion in a microfluidic channel is presented using the flow created from a single explosively expanding cavitation bubble. We test the technique for water-in-oil droplets, which are produced using a T-junction design in a microfluidic chip. The cavitation bubble is created with a pulsed laser beam focused into one droplet. High-speed photography of the dynamics reveals that the droplet fusion can be induced within a few tens of microseconds and is caused by the rapid thinning of the continuous phase film separating the droplets. The cavitation bubble collapses and re-condenses into the droplet. Droplet fusion is demonstrated for static and moving droplets, and for droplets of equal and unequal sizes. Furthermore, we reveal the diffusion dominated mixing flow and the transport of a single encapsulated cell into a fused droplet. This laser-based droplet fusion technique may find applications in micro-droplet based chemical synthesis and bioassays.

Displacement of particles in microfluidics by laser-generated tandem bubbles

The dynamic interaction between laser-generated tandem bubble and individual polystyrene particles of 2 and 10 μm in diameter is studied in a microfluidic channel (25 μm height) by high-speed imaging and particle image velocimetry. The asymmetric collapse of the tandem bubble produces a pair of microjets and associated long-lasting vortices that can propel a single particle to a maximum velocity of 1.4 m∕s in 30 μs after the bubble collapse with a resultant directional displacement up to 60 μm in 150 μs. This method may be useful for high-throughput cell sorting in microfluidic devices.

Controlled manipulation and in situ mechanical measurement of single co nanowire with a laser-induced cavitation bubble

The flow induced by a single laser-induced cavitation bubble is used to manipulate individual Co nanowires. The short-lived (<20 μs) bubble with a maximum size of 45 μm is created in an aqueous solution with a laser pulse. Translation, rotation, and radial motion of the nanowire can be selectively achieved by varying the initial distance and orientation of the bubble with respect to the nanowire. Depending on the initial distance, the nanowire can be either pushed away or pulled toward the laser focus. No translation is observed for a distance further than approximately 60 μm, while at closer distance, the nanowire can be bent as a result of the fast flow induced during the bubble collapse. Studying the dynamics of the shape recovery allows an estimation of the Young's modulus of the nanowire. The low measured Young's modulus (in a range from 9.6 to 13.0 GPa) of the Co nanowire is attributed to a softening effect due to structural defects and surface oxidation layer. Our study suggests that this bubble-based technique allows selectively transporting, orienting, and probing individual nanowires and may be exploited for constructing functional nanodevices.

Pulsating tandem microbubble for localized and directional single-cell membrane poration

The interaction of laser-generated tandem microbubble (maximum diameter of about 50  μm) with single (rat mammary carcinoma) cells is investigated in a 25-μm liquid layer. Antiphase and coupled oscillation of the tandem microbubble leads to the formation of alternating, directional microjets (with max microstreaming velocity of 10  m/s) and vortices (max vorticity of 350 000  s{-1}) in opposite directions. Localized and directional membrane poration (200 nm to 2  μm in pore size) can be produced by the tandem microbubble in an orientation and proximity-dependent manner, which is absent from a single oscillating microbubble of comparable size and at the same stand-off distance.

Nonspherical laser-induced cavitation bubbles

The generation of arbitrarily shaped nonspherical laser-induced cavitation bubbles is demonstrated with a optical technique. The nonspherical bubbles are formed using laser intensity patterns shaped by a spatial light modulator using linear absorption inside a liquid gap with a thickness of 40 microm. In particular we demonstrate the dynamics of elliptic, toroidal, square, and V-shaped bubbles. The bubble dynamics is recorded with a high-speed camera at framing rates of up to 300,000 frames per second. The observed bubble evolution is compared to predictions from an axisymmetric boundary element simulation which provides good qualitative agreement. Interesting dynamic features that are observed in both the experiment and simulation include the inversion of the major and minor axis for elliptical bubbles, the rotation of the shape for square bubbles, and the formation of a unidirectional jet for V-shaped bubbles. Further we demonstrate that specific bubble shapes can either be formed directly through the intensity distribution of a single laser focus, or indirectly using secondary bubbles that either confine the central bubble or coalesce with the main bubble. The former approach provides the ability to generate in principle any complex bubble geometry.