『Cover Story』The "voice-controlled" era of particles created by Sondii

The cover of this issue of Science Advances is “Acoustofluidic tweezers via ring resonance” by Academician Jun Huang of Duke University.

Research Background

Ring resonator (RR) devices are closed-loop waveguides where waves circulate only at the resonant frequencies. They have been used in sensor technology and optical tweezers, but controlling micron-scale particles with optical RR tweezers is challenging due to insufficient force, short working distances, and photodamage.

Research Significance

To overcome these obstacles, an acoustofluidic RR-based tweezing method is developed to manipulate micro-sized particles that can enhance particle trapping through the resonance interaction of acoustic waves with a high Q factor (>3000), more than 20 times greater than traditional acoustic transducers. Particles can be precisely manipulated within the RR by adjusting the signal phase, with trapping amplified by enlarging the connected waveguide. 

Rapid particle mixing is achieved when particles are placed between the waveguide and RR. By strategically positioning the RR in a two-dimensional plane, the signal path can be strengthened. This acoustofluidic RR tweezers not only solves the technical difficulties of traditional optical RR tweezers, but also provides new possibilities for the precise manipulation of microparticles, thereby promoting progress in the fields of biosensing, mechanobiology, chip laboratories, and cell-to-cell communication research.

Research Prospects

The development of acoustofluidic RR tweezers provides new tools and methods for the manipulation of microparticles, and has broad application prospects. In the future, this technology is expected to achieve higher sensitivity detection in the field of biosensing, providing strong support for early diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

In the field of mechanobiology, it can help scientists to have a deeper understanding of the interaction between cells and the mechanical environment; in the field of chip laboratories, acoustofluidic RR tweezers can simplify experimental operations and improve experimental efficiency and accuracy; in the study of intercellular communication, this technology can accurately manipulate cell positions, thereby revealing the mystery of intercellular signal transmission. In short, the research on acoustofluidic RR tweezers will bring new opportunities and challenges to the development of multiple scientific fields.

Cover Design Process

13 Nov 2024 Vol 10, Issue 46

Xianchen Xu , Ke Jin, Kaichun Yang,Ruoyu Zhong , Mingyuan Liu, Wesley Collyer,Shivam Jain, Ying Chen, Jianping Xia, and Tony Jun Huang 

The cover design is closely centered around the theme of the paper, which is the application of acoustic fluid ring resonator (RR) in particle manipulation. By showing the structure and working principle of the ring resonator, as well as the manipulation effect of the particles in it, the research content of the paper is intuitively conveyed.

The background of the cover adopts a dark blue tone, which is usually associated with themes such as technology and the future, giving people a high-tech and professional feeling. The metal rods and particles in the ring resonator structure are in gold, which not only contrasts with the background, but also adds a touch of nobility and elegance. The overall style of the cover is modern and simple, without too many decorative elements, but conveys information through simple lines and graphics.

This style is in line with the characteristics of scientific and technological journals, allowing readers to obtain the required information faster. By showing the structure and working principle of the ring resonator, as well as the manipulation effect of the particles in it, the cover design gives people a strong sense of technology. This design not only conforms to the research content of the paper, but also attracts the attention of readers. During the modeling process, the designer paid attention to the details, such as the thickness of the metal rods, the size and shape of the particles, etc., which have been carefully designed. These details make the entire structure more realistic and credible.

In summary, the cover design of Science Advances is outstanding in terms of theme prominence, color matching, style and modeling. It not only meets the characteristics of scientific journals, but also successfully attracts readers' attention and plays a positive role in the dissemination and promotion of papers. In the end, the cover was highly recognized by teachers and journal editors and was successfully published!