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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 26, 2026

Author Spotlight: Development of a Scaffold-Free Acoustic Assembly Method for High-Quality 3D Cell Spheroid Culture

Author Spotlight: Development of a Scaffold-Free Acoustic Assembly Method for High-Quality 3D Cell Spheroid Culture

Published on: October 13, 2023

Three-dimensional manipulation of single cells using surface acoustic waves.

Feng Guo¹, Zhangming Mao¹, Yuchao Chen¹

¹Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802;

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|January 27, 2016

Summary

Researchers developed 3D acoustic tweezers using surface acoustic waves for precise, noninvasive manipulation of microparticles and cells. This technology enables 3D structure printing with biological cells without physical contact.

Keywords:

3D acoustic tweezers 3D cell manipulation 3D particle manipulation cell assembly cell printing

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Last Updated: Mar 26, 2026

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Published on: October 13, 2023

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Manipulating Living Cells to Construct Stable 3D Cellular Assembly Without Artificial Scaffold

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Published on: October 26, 2018

Area of Science:

Acoustic manipulation
Biotechnology
Microfluidics

Background:

Surface acoustic waves (SAWs) enable acoustic tweezers for particle and cell manipulation.
Existing methods offer limited manipulation dimensions.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce 3D acoustic tweezers for manipulating microparticles and cells along three orthogonal axes.
To demonstrate precise, noninvasive, and label-free 3D cell assembly and printing.

Main Methods:

Utilizing surface acoustic waves to generate 3D trapping nodes.
Employing standing-wave phase shifts for in-plane motion control.
Using acoustic vibration amplitude for orthogonal plane motion control.

Main Results:

Demonstrated precise micromanipulation of particles and cells in a microfluidic chamber.
Successfully picked up, translated, and printed single cells and cell assemblies.
Created 2D and 3D structures using cells in a contact-free manner.

Conclusions:

3D acoustic tweezers provide a novel platform for volumetric manipulation and assembly of microscale entities.
This technology offers precise, noninvasive, and label-free control for advanced biological and microfluidic applications.