Application Cases

Experimental Name: Ultrasonically Driven Microneedle System for Cell Spheroid Assembly

Research Direction: Acoustic Tweezers

Experimental Content: The research team developed a cell spheroid micromanipulation method based on coupled acoustic streaming and acoustic radiation force, enabling controlled capture and release operations, and achieving controlled assembly of cell spheroids in both 2D and 3D spaces.

Test Equipment: Signal generator, ATA-1372A broadband amplifier, oscilloscope, microscope, etc.

Experimental Process:

Figure 1: Ultrasonically Driven Microneedle System for Cell Spheroid Assembly

Figure 2: Cell Spheroid Patterning Assembly Process

As shown in Figure 1, the system consists of four core components: signal generator, power amplifier, 3D-printed microneedle, and piezoelectric ceramic (PZT) transducer. When the PZT transducer is excited by AC signals from the signal generator, acoustic waves propagate along the microneedle axis to the tip and penetrate into the cell culture medium containing spheroids, generating strong acoustic streaming that drives directional migration of cell spheroids along streamlines. When cell spheroids approach the microneedle tip, stable capture is achieved through dynamic balance of multiple forces including gravity, buoyancy, Stokes drag, and acoustic radiation force. Based on this mechanism, we established the patterning assembly process shown in Figure 2: first, the acoustically excited microneedle is inserted into the medium to capture cell spheroids at the tip; then, a precision displacement platform moves the microneedle along predetermined trajectories to transfer captured spheroids; finally, the transducer is turned off to terminate the acoustic field and release the spheroids for pattern deposition.

Experimental Results:

Figure 3: Cell Spheroids of Various Shapes

Figure 4: Cell Spheroid Assembly Results

To verify the feasibility and accuracy of this acoustofluidic micromanipulation system for patterned cell spheroid assembly, as shown in Figure 3, we successfully assembled cell spheroids into various 2D shapes including lines, triangles, rectangles, circles, and concentric circles. Furthermore, we assembled multiple cell spheroids into homogeneous or heterogeneous pyramid structures in 3D space, demonstrating the system's potential for constructing complex structures. Using MC3T3-E1 cell spheroids, we demonstrated its application potential in osteogenic tissue preparation. As shown in Figure 4, we first assembled five cell spheroids into a ring structure. After 48 hours of culture, the spheroids fused into a ring-shaped microtissue. 

Recommended Power Amplifier: ATA-1372A

Figure: ATA-1372A Broadband Amplifier Specifications

Experimental materials compiled and released by Xi'an Aigtek Electronics. Aigtek is a large-scale instrument supplier with extensive product lines in the industry, offering free demo units. Xi'an Aigtek Electronics specializes in R&D, production and sales of electronic measurement instruments including power amplifiers, high-voltage amplifiers, power signal sources, preamplifiers for small signals, high-precision voltage sources, and high-precision current sources. The company focuses on developing test solutions centered on products like power amplifiers, power signal sources, and metrology calibration sources, providing competitive testing solutions.