Particles Aggregation Using Flexural Plate Waves Device

Abstract

Particles aggregation has wide applications especially in the areas of medical, biology and biochemical analysis. Several on-chip methods have been used to manipulate particles such as surface acoustic wave (SAW), bulk acoustic wave (BAW), magnetophoresis and dielectrophoresis. Other aggregation methods such as ultracentrifugation and mass spectrometry are inconvenient to be used as they require high-tech equipment and relevant specialists. In this work, on chip aggregation method by flexural plate waves (FPW) device provided an automated and fast response process. This paper describes an aggregation procedure of 6.42 μm polystyrene particles using FPW device. Experiment was conducted using two FPW devices with two different diameter of the smallest annular interdigitated transducer (AIDT). The operation frequency for both devices was 30.6 MHz while the RF power supply was 100 mW. The efficiency of particle aggregation was analysed based on the number of particles at the pressure nodes (quantitative results). This contactless aggregation method was seen suitable for microfluidic applications or to be more specific for on chip cell biology co-culture that does not affect the physical condition of cells.