Application Cases

【Overview】
In this study, the Aigtek ATA-2042 high-voltage amplifier was used to build an experimental platform based on acoustic field-induced microstreaming technology. Circulating free DNA (cfDNA) is an important biomarker for cancer liquid biopsy, but its concentration in body fluids is extremely low (e.g., 1.8–44 ng/ml in healthy human plasma), limiting detection sensitivity. Although microfluidic technology enables nucleic acid capture through miniaturized channels, existing methods such as solid-phase or non-solid-phase extraction suffer from low efficiency and complex operation. Acoustic mixing can improve mixing efficiency, but traditional high-frequency driving methods have poor adaptability. This study designed a multi-chamber microfluidic chip that uses acoustic field-induced bubble vibration to generate microstreaming, enhancing the mixing of samples with magnetic beads and thereby improving cfDNA capture efficiency, providing a new platform for efficient detection.

Experiment Name: Application of Microfluidic-Based Acoustic Streaming Mixing and Efficient Capture in cfDNA

Experiment Principle:
This study is based on acoustic field-induced microstreaming technology. A piezoelectric transducer generates an acoustic field that drives the gas-liquid interface in the microfluidic chip to oscillate, causing bubble vibration and fluid microstreaming, which promotes mixing and contact between the sample and magnetic beads. A multi-chamber chip structure was designed, combined with precision syringe pump control of flow rates, and a microscope and camera were used to monitor the mixing process. The bubble chamber parameters and driving conditions were optimized through simulation. An innovative acoustic mixer was used to achieve efficient low-frequency driving, combined with magnetic bead immobilization technology, significantly improving mixing efficiency. Experiments showed that at a driving voltage of 30 V, the mixing time was reduced by a factor of 5.8, and the cfDNA capture rate reached up to 80%, a 20% improvement compared to no acoustic field excitation, providing a reliable platform for efficient capture of trace biological samples and cancer liquid biopsy.

Experimental Block Diagram:

Experimental Setup Photos:

Experimental Procedure:
The piezoelectric transducer applied acoustic field vibration to bubbles inside the microfluidic chip, and fluorescence microscopy was used to monitor fluid mixing and cfDNA capture efficiency. Analysis showed that at an optimal flow rate of 1 μL/s, bubbles were stably generated, and mixing efficiency was proportional to the driving voltage. At 30 V, the mixing time decreased from 105 s to 18 s. In cfDNA capture, the capture rate reached up to 80.39% under acoustic field excitation, approximately 20% higher than without excitation, and the capture rate improved by 7%–17% across different sample volumes. The results confirmed that acoustic field-induced bubble vibration effectively enhanced microstreaming mixing and cfDNA capture efficiency in the chip, providing a reliable basis for the efficient enrichment of trace nucleic acids in cancer liquid biopsy.

Application Scenarios:
Microfluidic chips, acoustic streaming mixing, cfDNA capture, bubble-induced microstreaming, cancer liquid biopsy, circulating free DNA, acoustic actuation, microfluidic platforms, nucleic acid enrichment, high-efficiency capture, acoustic field vibration, micromixers, biosensors, medical diagnostics

Advantages of Aigtek Amplifiers in This Application:

1. Wide bandwidth and low-frequency response – Precisely match the driving frequency to ensure stable excitation of bubble resonance modes.

2. High voltage output and fine gain adjustment – Cover operating points and enable accurate calibration of the relationship between mixing efficiency and voltage.

3. Low distortion and high output stability – Ensure data consistency in repetitive experiments across multi-chamber chips and different sample volumes.

Recommended Product: ATA-2000 Series High-Voltage Amplifier

Figure: ATA-2000 Series High-Voltage Amplifier Specifications and Parameters