Researchers from Binghamton University, in collaboration with North Carolina State University, Harvard Medical School, and Duke University, have made a groundbreaking discovery in the realm of physics involving liquid droplets and ultrasound waves. This discovery opens up new possibilities for manipulating solid particles suspended in liquid, with potential applications in biomedical testing and drug development.
Assistant Professor Yuyang Gu from Binghamton’s Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science described this phenomenon as a new frontier in physics that had not been explored before. The research, recently published in the journal Science Advances, sheds light on how ultrasound waves on a piezoelectric substrate can induce spin in a liquid droplet, causing particles within the droplet to concentrate at a central point.
The study revealed that by manipulating the surface tension of the liquid, the radius of the droplet, and the parameters of the ultrasound waves, researchers can control the movement and concentration of particles within the droplet. This innovative technique not only has implications for biomedical applications but also offers insights into the physics of rotating systems, drawing parallels to phenomena observed in nature and quantum physics.
The research team, led by Gu and NCSU Assistant Professor Chuyi Chen, aims to further refine and expand this droplet manipulation technique. By exploring the effects of different parameters on droplet behavior and scaling up the system to include multiple droplets spinning simultaneously, they hope to enhance the applicability of this technology for practical uses.
Gu emphasized that the ability to concentrate particles in 3D within a liquid droplet opens up possibilities for sorting biological samples and conducting various types of testing. The technique could revolutionize processes in fields such as biomedicine, offering a novel approach to manipulating and analyzing microscopic particles with precision.
Looking ahead, the researchers plan to delve deeper into the mechanisms underlying droplet spinning and particle concentration. By understanding the fundamental principles driving this phenomenon, they aim to optimize the technology for diverse applications and explore its potential in other scientific disciplines.
This innovative research not only showcases the power of interdisciplinary collaboration but also highlights the importance of pushing the boundaries of scientific exploration. By harnessing the unique properties of ultrasound waves and liquid droplets, the study opens up a new realm of possibilities for manipulating particles at a microscopic level, with far-reaching implications for various industries and scientific fields.
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