Invisible Hydrodynamic Tweezers Based on Near-Zero Index Materials

Abstract

Manipulating particles, such as cells and tissues, in a flowing liquid environment is crucial for life science research. Traditional contactless tweezers, although widely used for single-cell manipulation, face several challenges. These include potential damage to the target, restriction to static environments, complex excitation setups, and interference outside the target area. To address these issues, we propose an ``invisible hydrodynamic tweezer'' utilizing near-zero index hydrodynamic metamaterials. This metamaterial-based device creates an equipotential resistance zone, effectively immobilizing particles in flowing fluids without disturbing the external flow field and without causing damage to the targets. Unlike traditional active control methods, our tweezer passively captures and releases particles by adjusting the flow channel, eliminating the need for continuous and stable excitation devices, thereby significantly simplifying the setup complexity. Furthermore, these tweezers can be modularly designed in different sizes to flexibly accommodate various application needs. Simulations and experimental validations demonstrated the non-interfering, stable trapping, and precise movement capabilities of these tweezers. This proposed technique holds significant potential for applications in biomedicine, microfluidics, and environmental monitoring.