Creating a smart Petri dish that uses sound to manipulate tiny biological particles.
Official title: Development of an acoustic-based smart Petri dish for contact-free, precise, versatile bioparticle manipulation
Funded at Ascent Bio-Nano Technologies, INC. · NIH-11098697 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a special smart Petri dish that uses sound waves to gently move tiny particles like cells, making it easier for scientists to grow and arrange them for research on things like stem cells and tissue engineering.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ascent Bio-Nano Technologies, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Morrisville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $982,940 |
| NIH project number | 5R44GM154514-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11098697 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals involved in biomedical research, particularly those working with stem cells or tissue engineering.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not engaged in biomedical research or those not working with cell manipulation techniques may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing an innovative smart Petri dish equipped with acoustic tweezers that can manipulate delicate bioparticles, such as cells and extracellular vesicles, without physical contact. The technology aims to enhance compatibility with existing laboratory workflows, allowing for precise, programmable, and high-throughput manipulation of cells. The smart Petri dish will enable various functions, including cell patterning and 3D tissue construction, making it a versatile tool for biomedical research. The project will also involve creating prototypes and validating their performance in applications related to stem cells and tissue engineering.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve laboratory techniques for manipulating cells, leading to advancements in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using acoustic tweezers for bioparticle manipulation, indicating a potential for success with this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Ascent Bio-Nano Technologies, INC.
Morrisville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Lin — Ascent Bio-Nano Technologies, INC.
- Study coordinator: Wang, Lin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Creating a new technology for handling liquids in biomedical research
This study is working on a new technology called AcoustoDrop that uses sound waves to move and drop liquids without touching them, which could make important medical research, like DNA testing and drug development, faster and cleaner, ultimately helping patients with better treatments in the future.
-
Creating a new technology for handling liquids in biomedical research
This study is working on a new technology called AcoustoDrop that uses sound waves to move and release tiny droplets of liquid without touching them, which could help scientists do their work more accurately and safely, ultimately leading to better treatments for patients.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.