Embedded Microbubbles for Acoustic Manipulation of Single Cells and Microfluidic Applications

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Acoustofluidics
• Microfluidics

Background:

• Acoustically excited microstructures show promise for small-scale biomedical applications, overcoming microfluidic limitations.
• Oscillating microbubbles offer superior acoustic streaming at low power compared to solid structures.
• Limited temporal stability of microbubbles restricts their industrial and clinical use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel acoustofluidic design, the embedded microbubble, combining solid structures and microbubbles.
• To enhance the temporal stability and applicability of microbubble-based acoustofluidics.
• To investigate design parameters and demonstrate manipulation capabilities for microfluidic applications.

Main Methods:

• Numerical simulations to study design parameters and geometrical features.
• Experimental evaluation of manipulation capabilities.
• Assessment of mixing performance and cell manipulation in microfluidic systems.

Main Results:

• The embedded microbubble design successfully integrates benefits of solid structures and microbubbles.
• Demonstrated control over design parameters and geometrical features.
• Successful application in microfluidic mixing and controlled rotational manipulation of individual HeLa cells.

Conclusions:

• Embedded microbubbles offer a stable and effective solution for acoustofluidic applications.
• This design overcomes limitations of previous microbubble and solid microstructure approaches.
• The technology shows potential for advanced microfluidic applications in biomedical fields.