Researchers are introducing new technologies that involve combination of laser and electric fields for manipulating liquids and small particles such as virus, bacteria, and DNA for usage in several industries from food safety to drug production.
A method named hybrid optoelectric manipulation in microfluidics is an efficient tool for applications such as testing food and water, crime-scene forensics, medical diagnostics, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
New technology that combines laser and electric fields to manipulate fluids and tiny particles
Firstly, the technology uses a red laser to place a droplet on a platform. Next, a beam of infrared laser is directed to heat the droplets followed by an electric field that makes the heated liquid to rotate in a microfluidic vortex. This vortex is used to segregate specific kinds of particles in the rotating fluid, similar to a micro centrifuge. Concentrations of the particles are identical to the location, size, and shape of the infrared laser pattern. Systems based on hybrid optoelectric approach can accurately identify, manipulate and monitor specific kinds of bacteria and specific strains that leave heavy metals less toxic.
According to Stuart J. Williams, mechanical engineering assistant professor at University of Louisville, the two important driving-forces in applications are lab-on-a-chip sensors and micro- and nanomanufacturing.
Steven T. Wereley, a mechanical engineering professor of Purdue University, stated that the new technology can produce analytical devices and innovative sensors for lab-on-a-chip applications. This technology is useful in pharmaceutical industry because some drugs are produced from solid particles and suspended in liquid medium. The technology may act as a tool for nanomanufacturing by gathering suspended particles, called colloids.
Combination of these techniques helps to manipulate larger objects such as droplets and even smaller molecules like DNA present inside the droplets, says Kumar, doctoral student of Purdue.