Acoustic manipulations of droplets with high-speed automatic route planning and navigation

IF 2.5 4区工程技术 Q2 INSTRUMENTS & INSTRUMENTATION

Microfluidics and Nanofluidics Pub Date : 2025-07-11 DOI:10.1007/s10404-025-02830-7

Shuchang Liu, Luyao Li, Shuying Wang, Bohan Liang, Hao Zhang, Weiwei Cui

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The development of digital microfluidics has inspired significant advancements in diverse applications such as virus detection, molecular hybridization, and chemical reactions. The capabilities of digital microfluidics, taking Electrowetting-on-Dielectric (EWOD) for example, are precise handling and detecting targets based on the fundamental manipulations such as transportation, merging, mixing, and splitting of droplets. However, digital microfluidic systems suffer from complex electrode layouts, poor dynamic performance, and low-efficiency droplet manipulation. To address these limitations, we present a digital microfluidic system with enhanced dynamic properties using unidirectional emission surface acoustic waves. Surface acoustic wave device with resonance frequency of 300 MHz has been carefully designed with an acoustic reflector next to one end driving path from the other end, which is demonstrated as long as 600 times the wavelength for droplet transportation. By arranging the SAW array, the system enables precise and high-speed droplet transportation within a large programmed area. A smart platform is developed to automatically program and control droplets with preplanned routes. The SAW droplet manipulation system has shown excellent performance in high speed, ultra-long pathways, and automatic navigation, greatly promoting the acoustic manipulation advancements for biomedical research and chemical engineering.

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具有高速自动路线规划和导航的液滴声学操纵

数字微流控技术的发展在病毒检测、分子杂交和化学反应等多种应用领域取得了重大进展。以电介质电润湿（EWOD）为例，数字微流体的能力是基于液滴的传输、合并、混合和分裂等基本操作来精确处理和检测目标。然而，数字微流体系统存在电极布局复杂、动态性能差、液滴操作效率低等问题。为了解决这些限制，我们提出了一个数字微流体系统，具有增强的动态特性，使用单向发射表面声波。精心设计了共振频率为300 MHz的表面声波装置，其一端靠近声反射器，从另一端驱动路径，证明其长度为液滴输送波长的600倍。通过排列SAW阵列，系统可以在一个大的编程区域内实现精确和高速的液滴输送。开发了一个智能平台，可以根据预先规划的路线自动编程和控制液滴。SAW液滴操纵系统在高速、超长路径和自动导航方面表现出优异的性能，极大地促进了生物医学研究和化学工程的声学操纵进展。

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来源期刊

Microfluidics and Nanofluidics 工程技术-纳米科技

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

3.60%

发文量

审稿时长

2 months

期刊介绍： Microfluidics and Nanofluidics is an international peer-reviewed journal that aims to publish papers in all aspects of microfluidics, nanofluidics and lab-on-a-chip science and technology. The objectives of the journal are to (1) provide an overview of the current state of the research and development in microfluidics, nanofluidics and lab-on-a-chip devices, (2) improve the fundamental understanding of microfluidic and nanofluidic phenomena, and (3) discuss applications of microfluidics, nanofluidics and lab-on-a-chip devices. Topics covered in this journal include: 1.000 Fundamental principles of micro- and nanoscale phenomena like, flow, mass transport and reactions 3.000 Theoretical models and numerical simulation with experimental and/or analytical proof 4.000 Novel measurement & characterization technologies 5.000 Devices (actuators and sensors) 6.000 New unit-operations for dedicated microfluidic platforms 7.000 Lab-on-a-Chip applications 8.000 Microfabrication technologies and materials Please note, Microfluidics and Nanofluidics does not publish manuscripts studying pure microscale heat transfer since there are many journals that cover this field of research (Journal of Heat Transfer, Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, etc.).