High-throughput and directed microparticle manipulation in complex-shaped maze chambers based on travelling surface acoustic waves.

High-throughput automated manipulation of microparticles in complex-shaped environments has been demonstrated with great potential in the field of pharmaceutical microfluidics. Generally, the development of a highly efficient actuation method for functional microparticle manipulation in complex-shaped chamber structures is the key challenge of this technology. Here, we present a novel traveling surface acoustic wave (TSAW)-based manipulation device that allows for automated and high-throughput maze-solving manipulation of microparticles inside complex round-shaped and square-shaped maze chambers. This technology relies on the localized acoustic streaming effects generated by TSAWs, which are capable of automatically trapping microparticles and driving them to move along the determined trajectories based on the topographic features of the maze chamber. Numerical modelling and simulation were conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of our proposed device for targeted microparticle transportation in complex-shaped maze chamber environments. In addition, by configuring the excitation of electric signals of interdigital transducers (IDTs), such as excitation frequency and input voltage, the motion velocity of microparticles can be rapidly adjusted within 0.1 s. Thus, our device enables low-cost, compact, and contactless trajectory manipulation of high-throughput microparticles inside chambers with complex topographical features and would have application in cell-directed transportation, low-volume chemical mixing, and precise drug delivery.