Systems and methods for acoustic manipulation and sampling of lipids and lipid particles

A method of preparing macromolecular structures for analysis, comprising:

• providing a first surface acoustic wave (SAW) device comprising:
• a first piezoelectric surface,
• a first pair of transducers in contact with the first piezoelectric surface, and
• a first sample region disposed between the first pair of transducers,
• the first sample region configured to remain electrically isolated from each of the first pair of transducers;
• placing a macromolecular sample on the first SAW device;
• applying disruption electrical energy, comprising a disruption frequency and a disruption power, to each of the first pair of transducers to transform the macromolecular sample into a disrupted macromolecular sample;
• and
• providing a second SAW device comprising:
• a second piezoelectric surface,
• a second pair of transducers in contact with the second piezoelectric surface,
• a second sample region disposed between the second pair of transducers,
• the second sample region configured to remain electrically isolated from each of the second pair of transducers;
• and
• applying nebulization electrical energy, comprising a nebulization frequency and a nebulization power, to each of the second pair of transducers to transform the disrupted macromolecular sample into a nebulized macromolecular sample.

A system for analyzing macromolecular structures, comprising:

• a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device comprising:
• a piezoelectric surface;
• a first transducer in contact with the piezoelectric surface,
• a second transducer in contact with the piezoelectric surface, and
• a sample region configured to receive a macromolecular structure sample between, and electrically isolated from, each of the first transducer and the second transducer;
• and
• a controller configured to apply electrical energy, having a frequency and a power, to the first transducer and second transducer.