Figure 1

Acoustic mediated bioseparation using NACPs. Schematic illustrating the use of NACPs as carriers for directed transport of PACPs (e.g., cells). (A) In the absence of the acoustic standing wave (PZT off), all particles distribute randomly within the acoustofluidic channel. (B) In the presence of the acoustic standing wave (PZT on), microparticles transport either to the pressure node (solitary non-targeted PACPs, blue) or to the acoustic anti-node (NACPs, red). Here, the acoustofluidic channel operates at a half wavelength resonant mode perpendicular to flow resulting in an antinode at both channel walls and a single node in the middle of the channel. By designing NACPs with biological affinity for targeted PACPs (green), NACP-PACP complexes form and collectively transport to the pressure antinode. Sorted PACPs may be collected downstream using a trifurcation configuration. Schematic is not to scale and represents conditions without flow or low flow rates.