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Streaming-based Tweezers for Routing, Engineering, and Manipulation of multiparticles: STREAM
Haodong Zhu1, Wenjun Yu1, Neil Upreti2
1Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
Microsystems & Nanoengineering
|May 7, 2025
Summary
This study introduces Streaming-based Tweezers for Routing, Engineering, And Manipulation of multiparticles (STREAM), a novel acoustic streaming platform for precise, contactless manipulation of multiple fragile samples with sub-wavelength resolution.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Engineering
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Contactless manipulation of fragile samples is vital across scientific disciplines.
- Existing hydrodynamic tweezers offer gentle handling but lack dynamic control and high resolution for multiple samples.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel platform for high-resolution, programmable, and dynamic contactless manipulation of multiple particles.
- To overcome the limitations of current methods in controlling and assembling microscale samples.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an array of piezoelectric plates to generate acoustic streaming for localized particle trapping.
- Investigated particle trapping mechanisms and routing resolution enhancement through multiunit activation.
- Integrated a convolutional neural network (CNN) for precise control of trapping positions beyond physical unit limitations.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated single particle routing with sub-wavelength precision.
- Achieved simultaneous manipulation of multiple particles.
- Successfully performed on-demand assembly of samples using the STREAM platform.
Conclusions:
- The STREAM platform offers unprecedented precision and dynamic control for contactless multiparticle manipulation.
- This technology has the potential to significantly advance applications in biology, chemistry, and materials science.
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