REVIEW

Recent progress on acoustofluidic manipulation of cells and particles

¹ Frontier Institute of Science and Technology (FIST), Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
² Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27705, USA
³ School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
⁴ Micro- and Nano-technology Research Center, State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China

^* Corresponding author (email: xiangmingli@xjtu.edu.cn)

Received: 1 December 2023
Revised: 11 January 2024
Accepted: 29 February 2024

Abstract

Acoustofluidics, an interdisciplinary nexus of microfluidics and acoustics, is propelling the critical functionalities of manipulation, separation, and mixing within microscale environments. This integration leverages the accuracy of microfluidics with the manipulation capabilities of acoustics, thereby enhancing the vital sample processing steps and satisfying inquiries in experiments. To fulfill the requisites of practical application in clinical and research arenas, the evolution of acoustofluidics concentrates on accomplishing finer particle separation, instantaneous manipulation, and augmented integration capacity. Acoustofluidics has evolved into a sophisticated and versatile instrument for handling specimens and reactants, prompting a trend towards devices characterized by stable performance at elevated frequencies, programmable control, and seamless integration with auxiliary microfluidic systems. In this review, we present the latest advancements in the development of sophisticated acoustofluidic systems that enhance efficiency and enable precise modulation of performance across spatial and temporal scales, thereby extending their functionality and suitability for practical applications.