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Published on: December 10, 2011
Microfluidic droplet sorting with a high frequency ultrasound beam
Changyang Lee1, Jungwoo Lee, Hyung Ham Kim
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Lab on a Chip
|May 31, 2012
Summary
High frequency ultrasound can sort single lipid droplets in microfluidics. This method achieves high sensing and sorting efficiencies for lipid droplet separation.
Area of Science:
- Microfluidics
- Acoustic manipulation
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Microfluidic devices are crucial for cell and particle manipulation.
- Efficient sorting of micro-scale droplets is essential for various applications.
- High-frequency ultrasound offers non-invasive sensing capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate high-frequency ultrasound for sensing and sorting single lipid droplets.
- To evaluate the efficiency of acoustic radiation forces in microfluidic sorting.
- To assess the feasibility of developing a cost-effective microparticle sorting instrument.
Main Methods:
- Hydrodynamic focusing of lipid droplets (50 μm and 100 μm) in a microfluidic channel.
- Non-invasive sensing using 30 MHz ultrasonic pulses to determine integrated backscatter (IB) coefficients.
- Sorting via acoustic radiation forces triggered by IB values, directing larger droplets to sheath flow.
Main Results:
- Sensing efficiencies of 98.6% (50 μm) and 99.0% (100 μm) were achieved.
- Sorting efficiencies reached 99.3% for 50 μm droplets and 85.3% for 100 μm droplets.
- Demonstrated successful separation of lipid droplets based on size using ultrasound.
Conclusions:
- High-frequency ultrasound is a feasible technique for sensing and sorting single lipid droplets.
- The developed method shows potential for cost-effective and efficient microparticle sorting.
- Further development could lead to advanced instruments for cell and microparticle manipulation.
