Acoustofluidic control of microscale droplets and particles

Abstract

For next-generation healthcare, lab-on-a-chip devices for liquid biopsy are important to conduct medical examination without skillful medical professionals and expensive diagnostic equipment. Precise control of microscale droplets and particles is fundamental to the development of lab-on-a-chip systems. This thesis describes acoustofluidic technologies and platforms to precisely control microscale droplets and particles based on high-frequency surface acoustic waves. Surface acoustic wave-driven acoustic radiation, acoustic streaming, acoustothermal phenomena are extensively utilized for droplet sorting, steering, sorting, and in-droplet microparticle washing and enrichment. The working mechanism of each acoustofluidic technology and its operation is thoroughly investigated from a fluid dynamics perspective.