Acoustic lithography: Field-directed cell patterning for bio-systems engineering

Yuyang Li; Dengjie Sun; Chenglin Miao; Yuqi Gao; Bin Zhao; Xu Du; Xiaoming Liu; Tatsuo Arai; Zhongqiang Zhang

doi:10.36922/IJB025410420

Acoustic lithography: Field-directed cell patterning for bio-systems engineering

Yuyang Li^*
, Dengjie Sun
, Chenglin Miao
, Yuqi Gao
, Bin Zhao
, Xu Du
, Xiaoming Liu
, Tatsuo Arai
, Zhongqiang Zhang^*

^*此作品的通讯作者

Jiangsu University
Beijing Institute of Technology
The University of Electro-Communications

科研成果: 期刊稿件 › 文献综述 › 同行评审

1 引用（Scopus）

摘要

The precise spatial patterning of living cells represents a foundational capability in bio-systems engineering, enabling the systematic study of collective cellular behaviors and the fabrication of increasingly complex functional tissues. Conventional methods for achieving this control, while numerous, are often constrained by static pattern formation, the need for biochemical labels that can alter cell function, or requirements for non-physiological media. In this context, acoustic-field-based manipulation has emerged as a uniquely powerful and biocompatible alternative. This review synthesizes these advancements under the unifying concept of “acoustic lithography,” a framework that captures the technology’s capacity for rapid, parallel, and label-free cellular organization. The discussion covers the core physical principles of acoustic radiation force and acoustic streaming before surveying the diverse technological landscape, from bulk and surface acoustic waves to advanced acoustic holography. It further highlights the impact of these tools across a spectrum of applications, including high-throughput analysis, biomimetic co-culture engineering, advanced biofabrication, and clinical sorting. Collectively, these applications demonstrate the field’s trajectory as it moves beyond static patterning to encompass the integrated control of structure, environment, and function. Viewing the technology through this broader engineering lens underscores its significance as a vital platform, charting a course for the next generation of dynamically engineered living systems.

源语言	英语
页（从-至）	71-101
页数	31
期刊	International Journal of Bioprinting
卷	12
期	1
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36922/IJB025410420
出版状态	已出版 - 15 2月 2026
已对外发布	是

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title = "Acoustic lithography: Field-directed cell patterning for bio-systems engineering",

abstract = "The precise spatial patterning of living cells represents a foundational capability in bio-systems engineering, enabling the systematic study of collective cellular behaviors and the fabrication of increasingly complex functional tissues. Conventional methods for achieving this control, while numerous, are often constrained by static pattern formation, the need for biochemical labels that can alter cell function, or requirements for non-physiological media. In this context, acoustic-field-based manipulation has emerged as a uniquely powerful and biocompatible alternative. This review synthesizes these advancements under the unifying concept of “acoustic lithography,” a framework that captures the technology{\textquoteright}s capacity for rapid, parallel, and label-free cellular organization. The discussion covers the core physical principles of acoustic radiation force and acoustic streaming before surveying the diverse technological landscape, from bulk and surface acoustic waves to advanced acoustic holography. It further highlights the impact of these tools across a spectrum of applications, including high-throughput analysis, biomimetic co-culture engineering, advanced biofabrication, and clinical sorting. Collectively, these applications demonstrate the field{\textquoteright}s trajectory as it moves beyond static patterning to encompass the integrated control of structure, environment, and function. Viewing the technology through this broader engineering lens underscores its significance as a vital platform, charting a course for the next generation of dynamically engineered living systems.",

keywords = "Acoustic lithography, Acoustofluidics, Bio-systems engineering, Biofabrication, Cell patterning",

author = "Yuyang Li and Dengjie Sun and Chenglin Miao and Yuqi Gao and Bin Zhao and Xu Du and Xiaoming Liu and Tatsuo Arai and Zhongqiang Zhang",

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AU - Zhao, Bin

AU - Du, Xu

AU - Liu, Xiaoming

AU - Arai, Tatsuo

AU - Zhang, Zhongqiang

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 Author(s). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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N2 - The precise spatial patterning of living cells represents a foundational capability in bio-systems engineering, enabling the systematic study of collective cellular behaviors and the fabrication of increasingly complex functional tissues. Conventional methods for achieving this control, while numerous, are often constrained by static pattern formation, the need for biochemical labels that can alter cell function, or requirements for non-physiological media. In this context, acoustic-field-based manipulation has emerged as a uniquely powerful and biocompatible alternative. This review synthesizes these advancements under the unifying concept of “acoustic lithography,” a framework that captures the technology’s capacity for rapid, parallel, and label-free cellular organization. The discussion covers the core physical principles of acoustic radiation force and acoustic streaming before surveying the diverse technological landscape, from bulk and surface acoustic waves to advanced acoustic holography. It further highlights the impact of these tools across a spectrum of applications, including high-throughput analysis, biomimetic co-culture engineering, advanced biofabrication, and clinical sorting. Collectively, these applications demonstrate the field’s trajectory as it moves beyond static patterning to encompass the integrated control of structure, environment, and function. Viewing the technology through this broader engineering lens underscores its significance as a vital platform, charting a course for the next generation of dynamically engineered living systems.

AB - The precise spatial patterning of living cells represents a foundational capability in bio-systems engineering, enabling the systematic study of collective cellular behaviors and the fabrication of increasingly complex functional tissues. Conventional methods for achieving this control, while numerous, are often constrained by static pattern formation, the need for biochemical labels that can alter cell function, or requirements for non-physiological media. In this context, acoustic-field-based manipulation has emerged as a uniquely powerful and biocompatible alternative. This review synthesizes these advancements under the unifying concept of “acoustic lithography,” a framework that captures the technology’s capacity for rapid, parallel, and label-free cellular organization. The discussion covers the core physical principles of acoustic radiation force and acoustic streaming before surveying the diverse technological landscape, from bulk and surface acoustic waves to advanced acoustic holography. It further highlights the impact of these tools across a spectrum of applications, including high-throughput analysis, biomimetic co-culture engineering, advanced biofabrication, and clinical sorting. Collectively, these applications demonstrate the field’s trajectory as it moves beyond static patterning to encompass the integrated control of structure, environment, and function. Viewing the technology through this broader engineering lens underscores its significance as a vital platform, charting a course for the next generation of dynamically engineered living systems.

KW - Acoustic lithography

KW - Acoustofluidics

KW - Bio-systems engineering

KW - Biofabrication

KW - Cell patterning

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Acoustic lithography: Field-directed cell patterning for bio-systems engineering

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