Phononic-Crystal-Enabled Dynamic Manipulation of Microparticles and Cells in an Acoustofluidic Channel

Contactless manipulation of particles and cells using acoustic forces that can be adjusted in real time is now important in $e.g.$ biomedical sensors, imaging devices, and diagnostic tools. Dynamic manipulation typically requires huge phased arrays with complex electrical control, or a moving source with an inflexible displacement platform, but here the authors develop a method using an acoustic field modulated by a phononic crystal plate (PCP) in an acoustofluidic channel. PCP resonance-based dynamic manipulation via a single source, by switching the frequency, has the advantages of being simple, disposable, scalable, and combinable with a microfluidic chip.