Low- and High-Frequency Characterization of Hybrid Acoustofluidic Devices Using Motile Cells.

Area of Science:

• Microfluidics
• Biotechnology
• Acoustic manipulation

Background:

• Acoustic microfluidics enables non-contact manipulation of microscale bioparticles.
• Current limitations include low operational consistency and lack of real-world performance monitoring.
• Characterizing acoustofluidic devices requires rapid and precise methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel method for characterizing hybrid acoustofluidic devices.
• To utilize Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a biological probe for acoustic field assessment.
• To identify optimal operating frequencies and image acoustic pressure fields in real-time.

Main Methods:

• Employing the unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to map acoustic fields.
• Characterizing hybrid acoustofluidic devices with bulk acoustic waves from surface acoustic waves.
• Real-time imaging of acoustic pressure fields via cell distribution density.

Main Results:

• Identified optimal low and high resonant frequencies for device operation.
• Successfully imaged acoustic pressure fields in real-time using C. reinhardtii distribution.
• Confirmed high energy transfer efficiency in the hybrid acoustofluidic devices.

Conclusions:

• Chlamydomonas reinhardtii offers a dynamic and sensitive method for acoustofluidic characterization.
• The developed hybrid devices demonstrate suitability for biocompatible manipulation of microswimmers.
• This approach addresses the need for improved consistency and repeatability in acoustofluidic platforms.