New technique for sorting micro-particles uses sound waves

Thanks to rapid advances in miniaturization technology, we have been using microfluidics primarily to sort small particles by size. But now, there’s a new way to sort them by shape, which could be a big deal for medical tests and chemistry. A recent study introduced a new method using sound waves to label oddly shaped particles without the need for round particles. The breakthrough could lead to improved methods of drug delivery or disease diagnosis by offering a better way to sort out these tiny particles.

In the realm of microfluidics, it has been common to separate microparticles based on size alone. However, morphological separation of these particles is crucial to further biomedical and chemical analyses. This approach requires innovative techniques capable of recognizing and separating micro-objects with subtle shape differences, going beyond traditional size-based separation methods.

This shift toward shape-based separations opens up new possibilities for a variety of applications in more accurate and efficient biomedical research, diagnostics, and chemical assays, necessitating advances in microfluidic technology to explore this untapped potential. highlights

Fresh the study I Microsystems and Nanoengineering have introduced a novel acoustofluidic method for shape-based microobject separation using surface acoustic waves. This label-free technique marks a significant advance in microfluidic technologies.

In the study, the researchers made a breakthrough in microfluidics, introducing an advanced acoustofluidic technique that separates and separates microparticles based on their shape rather than size. This method, using surface acoustic waves, expertly binds prolate ellipsoidal and spherical microparticles, enabling their separation with unprecedented precision.

These advances stem from the realization that shape, an important property often overlooked, can provide greater precision in a variety of applications. By focusing on sound waves, the team has successfully demonstrated that non-spherical objects can be aligned and separated, achieving high purity and efficiency. This research not only challenges conventional separation methods but also sets a new standard for precision in micro-object manipulation.

Lead researcher of the study, Dr. Jinsoo Park, says, “This method not only increases the accuracy in separating micro-objects, but also opens up new avenues in it. Biological research and evaluation, enabling more accurate and efficient analyses.”

This research has broad potential, covering everything from augmentation. Drug delivery Identifying specific cells for diagnosis. With further development, it could revolutionize fields such as biomedical engineering. Environmental ScienceOffers deep insight and management of the microscopic realm.