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3D steerable, acoustically powered microswimmers for single-particle manipulation.

Liqiang Ren1, Nitesh Nama2, Jeffrey M McNeill3

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Physics, and Engineering Science and Mechanics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.

Science Advances
|November 7, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed acoustically powered bubble microswimmers for contactless manipulation of micro/nano objects. These microswimmers enable precise 3D transport of synthetic colloids and cells without labeling, even at low power and away from transducers.

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Area of Science:

  • Microfluidics
  • Acoustic manipulation
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Precise contactless manipulation of micro/nano objects is crucial for advancements in biology, chemical engineering, and nanotechnology.
  • Existing microswimmers often require specific conditions (e.g., acoustic pressure nodes) or labeling for operation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To design acoustically powered bubble-based microswimmers capable of autonomous 3D motion.
  • To demonstrate selective transport of micro/nano objects, including mammalian cells, without labeling or surface modification.
  • To enable microswimmer operation at low power and away from ultrasonic transducers.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing a megahertz acoustic field to generate forces on bubble microswimmers.
  • Leveraging the secondary Bjerknes force and locally generated acoustic streaming for propulsion.
  • Employing magnetic steering for precise control of microswimmer movement.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated autonomous 3D motion of bubble microswimmers.
  • Achieved selective transport of individual synthetic colloids and mammalian cells in crowded environments.
  • Showcased propulsion at low power and away from acoustic transducers, unlike previous designs.

Conclusions:

  • Acoustically powered bubble microswimmers offer a novel, efficient, and versatile platform for contactless manipulation.
  • These microswimmers have significant potential for applications in cell sorting, targeted drug delivery, and micro-assembly.
  • The developed system overcomes limitations of existing microswimmers, enabling broader applicability in complex biological and chemical systems.