Investigating cell viability under shear stress in complex microstreaming flows generated by ultrasound-driven actuated microbubbles

In this study, we introduce a method, applied for the first time to manipulate human cells, by leveraging the controlled activation and deactivation of microbubble streaming – previously used for rigid polymer particles. This innovative technique enables automatic detection and non-destructive sorting of target cells within a microchannel, directing them into a collection chamber for further analysis or removal. A major focus was the quantification of shear stress distribution induced by the microbubble streaming, which confirmed the method’s biocompatibility. Even with prolonged exposure, no damage to live cells was observed, reinforcing the safety and viability of using microstreaming. These findings demonstrate the potential of microbubble streaming as a powerful tool for lab-on-a-chip systems and biomedical diagnostics.