Acoustic tweezers: patterning cells and microparticles using standing surface acoustic waves (SSAW)

Here we present an active patterning technique named "acoustic tweezers'' that utilizes standing surface acoustic wave (SSAW) to manipulate and pattern cells and microparticles. This technique is capable of patterning cells and microparticles regardless of shape, size, charge or polarity. Its power intensity, approximately 5 X 10(5) times lower than that of optical tweezers, compares favorably with those of other active patterning methods. Flow cytometry studies have revealed it to be non-invasive. The aforementioned advantages, along with this technique's simple design and ability to be miniaturized, render the "acoustic tweezers'' technique a promising tool for various applications in biology, chemistry, engineering, and materials science.