Ultrasound-based patterning of particles and cells within fluid matrices

A method of ultrasound-assisted 3D bioprinting, the method comprising:

• depositing a bioink fluid matrix containing a suspension of cells or particles into a chamber, the chamber comprising two piezo transducers on opposing ends of the chamber;
• vibrating the piezo transducers to generate longitudinal bulk acoustic waves within the bioink fluid matrix such that waves from opposing piezo transducers superimpose to form a standing bulk acoustic wave;
• and
• driving the cells or particles to cluster and align along one or more nodes or nodal planes formed within the bioink fluid matrix at points of intersection of the standing bulk acoustic wave to form a construct,
• wherein the nodes or nodal planes are spaced apart from each other by a distance equaling half a wavelength of the standing bulk acoustic wave,
• wherein the nodes mimic a contour of the vibrating surfaces of the piezo transducers, or a pattern determined using computational modeling.

A method of ultrasound-assisted 3D bioprinting, the method comprising:

• depositing a bioink fluid matrix containing a suspension of cells into a chamber comprising a piezo transducer and a reflector positioned on opposing ends of the chamber;
• vibrating the piezo transducer to generate longitudinal bulk acoustic waves within the bioink fluid matrix such that waves emanating from the piezo transducer and reflected waves from the reflector superimpose to form a standing bulk acoustic wave;
• and
• driving the cells to cluster and align along one or more nodes or nodal planes formed within the bioink fluid matrix at points of intersection of the standing bulk acoustic wave to form a construct,
• wherein the nodal planes are spaced apart from each other by a distance equaling half a wavelength of the standing bulk acoustic wave,
• wherein the nodes or nodal planes mimic a contour of the vibrating surfaces of the piezo transducer or the reflector, or organize a pattern determined using computational modeling.