Scientists Manipulate Cells Using Sound Waves [VIDEO]

A new research found out that "acoustic tweezers" may by the key to 3D printing living cell structures. The new technology will allow scientists to better design tissue implants for the treatment of disease and reconstructive surgery.

The new method could be used soon in a medical setting for noninvasive single cell manipulation with applications in tissue engineering, neuroscience and regenerative medicine. A detailed report has been published in the journal PNAS.

The tweezers are actually sound waves enabling researchers to manipulate cells. The targeted sound waves are acting like tweezers, being able to seize single cells and to move.

The manipulation of cells can be done in three dimensions. There is no direct contact with cells, unlike regular tweezers.

A microfluidic device specially designed for this procedure is creating the manipulating waves. The cell is trapped at first between two sound standing waves of equal height. The two acoustic waves meet and trap the cell in a point called the "pressure node."

The principal research scientist in MIT's Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ming Dao, explained for MIT News that researchers have designed now a working method to control the 3-D positioning of the pressure nodes and acoustic waves. The method is already validated through tests and researchers are working now to system optimization.

By changing waves' wavelength and shifting their phase, the pressure node can be moved by researchers together with the cell trapped within it. This procedure gives the possibility of 2-D movement across a horizontal plane.

In case that researchers need to move the cell in 3-D, then a third wave can be introduced.  The cell's vertical position can be manipulated by this third wave via "acoustic levitation."

According to the website UPI, the ability of manipulating cells without physical contact was until now the missing component of tissue design. In order to recreate natural tissue structure it is necessary precise control. Only now the scientists have been able to find a method to manipulate cells without degrading and damaging.