Versatile acoustic manipulation of micro-objects using mode-switchable oscillating bubbles: transportation, trapping, rotation, and revolution

Controllable on-chip multimodal manipulation of micro-objects in microfluidic devices is urgently required for enhancing the efficiency of potential biomedical applications. However, fixed design and driving models make it difficult to achieve switchable multifunction efficiently in a single device. In this study, a versatile bubble-based acoustofluidic device is proposed for multimodal manipulation of micro-objects in a biocompatible manner. Identical bubbles trapped over the bottom microcavities are made to flexibly switch between four different oscillatory motions by varying the applied frequency to generate corresponding modes of streaming patterns in the microchannel. Such regular modes enable stable transportation, trapping, 3D rotation, and circular revolution of the micro-objects, which were experimentally and numerically verified. The mode-switchable manipulations can be noninvasively applied to particles, cells, and organisms with different sizes, shapes, and quantities and can be controlled by key driving parameters. Moreover, 3D cell reconstruction is developed by applying the out-of-plane rotational mode and analyzed for illustration of cell surface morphology while quantifying reliably basic cell properties. Finally, a simple platform is established to integrate user-friendly function control and reconstruction analysis. The mode-switchable acoustofluidic device features a versatile, controllable, and contactless micro-object manipulation method, which provides an efficient solution for biomedical applications.