Integrated Hydrogel Patterning and Dynamic Microparticle Manipulation Using Optoelectronic Tweezers
Shunxiao Huang, jingwen ye, Wenyan Niu, Ao Wang, Zijin Zeng, Chan Li, Zaiyang Chen, Hongyan Sun, Yingjian Guo, Lin Feng
AI summary
Problem
Conventional microscale fabrication and particle manipulation are decoupled, lacking an integrated, biocompatible workflow for operating within hydrogel environments.
Approach
The system uses a dual-wavelength optical strategy to first photopolymerize biocompatible GelMA hydrogels via UV light, then switches to longer wavelengths to drive dielectrophoretic control of microspheres within the solidified matrix.
Key results
- High-fidelity single-region hydrogel patterning with mean contour deviation of 2.779 µm
- Scalable batch fabrication and customizable complex topologies like gear arrays and mazes
- Precise single-particle maze navigation with path deviations under 15 µm
- Synchronized coordinated navigation of double and triple microspheres with velocity differences below 0.9 µm/s
Why it matters
Enables integrated, maskless fabrication and dynamic control for tissue engineering scaffolds, targeted drug delivery, and cooperative multi-particle experiments.
Abstract
This paper presents an integrated optoelectronic tweezers platform that unifies hydrogel microstructure fab- rication with subsequent dynamic microsphere manipulation, enabled by a dual-wavelength optical strategy for seamless and programmable control. Initial tests in low-conductivity aqueous media confirmed high-fidelity OET patterning, with edge rough- ness below 20 μm. Using a biocompatible GelMA–LAP sys- tem, we achieved: (i) precise single-region hydrogel structures (hexagram patterns, average deviation 2.779 μm); (ii) scalable, customizable assemblies of complex topologies, including gear and maze arrays; and (iii) coordinated navigation of single, double, and triple microspheres within hydrogels, with triple- sphere velocity differences <0.9 μm/s. This approach overcomes the conventional OET limitation of decoupled photolithography and particle manipulation, integrating structure fabrication with dynamic control. It provides a versatile, reproducible platform for tissue engineering scaffolds, targeted drug delivery, and multi-particle coordination.