Acoustofluidics for translational medicine

Abstract

Acoustofluidics uses engineered acoustic fields to manipulate cells, vesicles, biofluids and tissues in a contact-free and highly programmable manner across microscale to macroscale biological systems. Originally developed as a physics-driven platform for microscale manipulation, acoustofluidics is increasingly emerging as a clinically relevant technology for diagnostics, therapeutics and physiological monitoring. However, clinical translation remains limited by insufficient component standardization, limited system integration beyond the proof-of-concept stage and the lack of established regulatory pathways. This Review addresses this gap by offering a structured discussion of translational progress in acoustofluidics, organized around five key healthcare and medical workflows: biomarker isolation and manipulation, point-of-care diagnostics, in vivo therapeutic applications, wearable and implantable acoustic systems, and end-to-end translation pathways from laboratory prototypes to clinically deployable products. Acoustofluidics is emerging as a versatile platform for clinical diagnostics and therapy, enabling real-time, label-free sensing, manipulation and control of biological and chemical systems across scales. This Review discusses translational progress across key medical workflows, highlights challenges in standardization and integration, and outlines pathways from proof-of-concept devices to clinically deployable systems.