Microfluidic devices have come a long way over the past decade, able to perform advanced diagnostics and to manipulate objects flowing through them in interesting ways. Yet, one thing that has been a challenge is the difficulty of rotating fragile cells and tiny organisms so that they’re not damaged by the process. Now researchers at Penn State have reported on an acoustic approach they’ve developed of turning objects within a microfluidic device so that it can be examined from all angles.
The team used ultrasound transducers to create tiny vortexes within the liquid samples that are tuned just right so that they rotate whatever is within. For example, the investigators were able to spin the commonly studied HeLa cancer cells, as well as the C. elegans roundworm that’s only a millimeter in length.
The new technology allows researchers to use cheap imaging devices, including common smartphones, to photograph the samples and create three-dimensional representation of what’s being studied.
Study in Nature Communications: Rotational manipulation of single cells and organisms using acoustic waves…
Source: Penn State…