Issue 21, 2019

Deep, sub-wavelength acoustic patterning of complex and non-periodic shapes on soft membranes supported by air cavities

Abstract

Arbitrary patterning of micro-objects in liquid is crucial to many biomedical applications. Among conventional methodologies, acoustic approaches provide superior biocompatibility but are intrinsically limited to producing periodic patterns at low resolution due to the nature of standing waves and the coupling between fluid and structure vibrations. This work demonstrates a near-field acoustic platform capable of synthesizing high resolution, complex and non-periodic energy potential wells. A thin and viscoelastic membrane is utilized to modulate the acoustic wavefront on a deep, sub-wavelength scale by suppressing the structural vibration selectively on the platform. Using 3 MHz excitation (λ ∼ 500 μm in water), we have experimentally validated such a concept by realizing patterning of microparticles and cells with a line resolution of 50 μm (one tenth of the wavelength). Furthermore, massively parallel patterning across a 3 × 3 mm2 area has been achieved. This new acoustic wavefront modulation mechanism is powerful for manufacturing complex biologic products.

Graphical abstract: Deep, sub-wavelength acoustic patterning of complex and non-periodic shapes on soft membranes supported by air cavities

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
26 Jun 2019
Accepted
13 Sep 2019
First published
04 Oct 2019

Lab Chip, 2019,19, 3714-3725

Author version available

Deep, sub-wavelength acoustic patterning of complex and non-periodic shapes on soft membranes supported by air cavities

K. Tung, P. Chung, C. Wu, T. Man, S. Tiwari, B. Wu, Y. Chou, F. Yang and P. Chiou, Lab Chip, 2019, 19, 3714 DOI: 10.1039/C9LC00612E

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