The present invention provides an apparatus and method for washing and concentrating microparticles encapsulated in microscale droplets using an acoustic radiation force. The apparatus includes: a piezoelectric substrate; a slanted finger interdigital transducer (SIDT) electrode deposited on the piezoelectric substrate and configured to generate surface acoustic waves under an AC signal applied thereto; and a microfluidic chip which is adhered to the piezoelectric substrate with being spaced apart from the SIDT electrode, has a microscale channel section formed therein, in which a single continuous phase and a plurality of dispersed phases are injected, respectively, and includes a plurality of inlet ports into which continuous and dispersed phases are injected, and a discharge port from which a plurality of droplets composed of the continuous and dispersed phases and generated by the intersection thereof are discharged.

A method for separating microplastics from an animal feces, the method including: 1) freeze-drying an animal fecal sample; 2) transferring the animal fecal sample dried in 1) into a beaker, adding a Fenton's reagent; stirring a mixture of the animal fecal sample and the Fenton's reagent until no bubbles were produced; constantly adding the Fenton's reagent to the mixture; filtering the mixture through a plurality of cellulose nitrate-cellulose acetate (CN-CA) membranes, and transferring the plurality of CN-CA membranes into a plurality of 500 mL beakers; adding 100 mL of 65% HNO.sub.3 to each beaker, placing the each beaker in a water bath firstly at 50° C. for 30 min and then at 70° C. for 15 min; cooling the each beaker in an ice bath, and filtering a solution in the each beaker through a first polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane; and 3) transferring the first PTFE membrane into a 500 mL beaker.

A method of performing a separation of a sample of a disperse fluid comprises the steps of: i. providing a sample of a disperse fluid comprising particles dispersed in a fluid, wherein the particles comprises at least a first type of particle and at least a second type of particles, wherein the absolute value of the acoustic contrast of the first type of particle, relative to the fluid, is lower than the absolute value of the acoustic contrast of the second type of particle relative to the fluid, and wherein the first and second type of particle either both have a positive acoustic contrast, or alternatively a negative acoustic contrast, relative to the fluid, ii. positioning the sample in a microfluidic cavity, iii. subjecting the sample, in the microfluidic cavity, to an acoustic standing wave configured for causing the first and second type of particle to congregate in at least one first region of the cavity, thereby causing the fluid to occupy at least one second region of the cavity, and thereby defining at least one interface between the first region and the second region, and iv. collecting at least a portion of the first region adjacent and along the at least one interface to obtain the first type of particles. A system is also disclosed.

An ultrasonic transmitter (95) and detector (e.g., integrated as an ultrasound transducer) utilized in a feedback control system automatically monitors and/or detects surface profile (e.g., shape) of the liquid-air interface and adjusts the flow rate of sampling liquid to ensure that experimental conditions remain consistent at the time of sample introduction during serial samplings. The feedback control can provide for automated adjustment of the surface profile of the liquid-air interface in accordance with changes in desired set point according to an experimental workflow (e.g., automated adjustment between an interface corresponding to a vortex sampling set point and an overflow cleaning set point). Improvements in desorption efficiency and quality of mass spectrometry data by degassing of the liquid solvent utilized within the sampling interfaces, and/or utilization in a feedback control system for generating data indicative of a surface profile of the liquid-air interface within the interface's sampling port may be realized.

1. A method of performing an acoustophoretic operation comprises the steps of: i. providing a fluid, ii. positioning the fluid in a microfluidic cavity, iii. subjecting at least one portion of the fluid, in the microfluidic cavity, to an acoustic wave, and iv. providing, in at least one first region of the at least one portion, a thermal inhomogeneity whereby the temperature of the fluid in the at least one first region differs from the temperature of the fluid in at least one second region of the remainder of the at least one portion. A microfluidic system is also disclosed.

A method for preparing and processing a sample is provided. The method includes obtaining a sample including biofluid. The method further includes purifying at least part of the sample via an acoustic separator to separate target cells from the sample. The sample may accordingly be at least partially purified. The method further includes causing a portion of an output collected from the acoustic separator to flow through a filter. At least one reagent, such as a lysis reagent or assay reagent, is caused to flow over the cells.

A method of manufacturing synthetic particles for use in microfluidic devices is disclosed. The method includes identifying a set of particle characteristics for a fluid-based process. The set of particle characteristics can include a synthetic particle density and one or more of a size, compressibility, elastic modulus, or porosity. The method includes selecting an input material for the synthetic particles based on the set of synthetic particle characteristics. The method may include selecting an additive based on the set of synthetic particle characteristics. The method includes providing input material and the additive into a droplet generator to create one or more synthetic particles having the set of synthetic particle characteristics, and modifying a surface characteristic the synthetic particles, such that the synthetic particles bind to a target particle in a solution.

Embodiments disclose an apparatus and methods for biological sample processing enabling isolation and enrichment of microbial or pathogenic constituents from the sample. A vessel for sample containment and extraction is further disclosed for engagement with a transducer capable of efficient sample disruption and lysis. Together these components provide a convenient and inexpensive solution for rapid sample preparation compatible with downstream analysis techniques.

An apparatus includes a chamber and an intake device configured to control a flow of fluid into the chamber. The fluid comprises particles; a resonance device is configured to resonate the chamber to provide an acoustic standing wave within the chambers. The frequency of the standing wave is selected to cause particles above a specific size to collect at a node of the standing wave.

A kit for detection of an analyte of interest in a liquid sample, and methods of using, are provided. The kit may include a pipette and a disposable pipette tip configured to engage the pipette. The pipette tip may define an acoustic channel configured for allowing flow-through of a liquid. The kit may also include a vibratory device in communication with the acoustic channel and configured for imparting a vibratory force thereto. The impartation of the vibratory force may create standing acoustic waves, thereby separating any negative acoustic contrast particles (NACPs) from the remaining contents of the liquid sample. The NACPs may capable of biospecific recognition of the analyte of interest, thereby separating the analytes of interest, which can then be collected or analyzed accordingly.