Incorporating artificial intelligence into this technology may assist researchers in discovering new treatments more swiftly and efficiently. This study, headed by Feng Guo, an associate professor of intelligent systems engineering at Indiana University, recently received a $1.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.
Acoustofluidics employs fluid dynamics principles to control biological materials, including chemical compounds and cells, in solution using sound. This technique — commonly known as "acoustic tweezers" — provides considerable benefits over alternative methods for manipulating these materials in laboratory settings, according to Guo, who trained under a leading expert in the field before joining IU.
In contrast to conventional liquid-handling techniques like pipetting, acoustofluidics operates without any physical contact, minimizing the potential for cross-contamination that could compromise experiments with biological samples.
According to Guo, this method is safe for living cells and eliminates the need for chemical markers, including fluorescent dyes or radioactive labels.
Acoustofluidics is completely contactless, label-free, and highly biocompatible.
Feng Guo, Director, Intelligent Biomedical Systems Lab, Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, Indiana University
He added that the technology has the potential to advance a wide range of medical research fields, including infectious diseases, cancer, and regenerative medicine.
The capabilities of acoustofluidics are vividly demonstrated under a microscope. Guo’s research has yielded video evidence of the chaotic movement of cells in solution, which transforms into meticulously controlled actions solely through the use of sound waves, as microscopic particles rotate and align in a structured manner.
According to Guo, integrating AI into this framework introduces the potential for real-time observation and adaptive management of intricate biomedical experiments. AI can respond significantly more swiftly than human researchers, who must halt their experiments after each modification in the system being studied to assess the next steps.
In contrast, AI can respond nearly instantaneously. For instance, Guo mentioned that the application of AI to acoustofluidics could facilitate quicker protein analysis or the screening of prospective drug compounds — both of which are essential in personalized medicine, where medications and dosages are customized to fit an individual patient’s unique biological makeup.
AI can help you generate the best protocol. It can provide dynamic feedback and dynamic monitoring to control fast, quick chemical reactions.
Feng Guo, Director, Intelligent Biomedical Systems Lab, Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, Indiana University
The technology disclosed by Guo to the IU Innovation and Commercialization Office has several applications, including a technique for swiftly assessing the impact of drug compounds on immune cell interactions within tumors; employing acoustic fields to activate tissues or organs, such as neurons or muscles; and utilizing acoustic therapeutic patches to administer accurate drug dosages transdermally. Additionally, he possesses a more comprehensive U.S. patent related to this technology.
Under the new NIH grant, Guo anticipates recruiting a new postdoctoral researcher and several undergraduate students for the Intelligent Biomedical Systems Lab, in addition to the nine graduate, undergraduate, and postdoctoral students who currently make up the group.
Guo is also a co-leader on a $16.5 million Alzheimer’s research grant in collaboration with the IU School of Medicine, as well as a $2 million NSF award that supports innovative research on brain organoid computing technology. Both initiatives also incorporate intelligent acoustofluidics and organ chip systems.
Guo’s research has already piqued the interest of various healthcare startups, including one that is considering the potential licensing of some of the technology.
“We really want to push for that translational impact — to find the practical challenge for industry or clinical translational medicine and leverage our efforts into the workforce,” said Guo, adding that the lab’s goal is not simply to advance acoustofluidics but also to pursue applications of the technology with the greatest potential impact in the real world.
“I do work to promote medicine, biology, and chemistry, but I’m trained in physics and engineering. What I always say is scientists want to understand the world, but engineers want to change it,” said Guo.