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VIDEO: Duke University researchers are concentrating and separating tiny particles by spinning individual droplets of liquid with soundwaves. view more
Credit: Ken Kingery, Duke University
DURHAM, N.C. - Mechanical engineers at Duke University have devised a method for spinning individual droplets of liquid to concentrate and separate nanoparticles for biomedical purposes. The technique is much more efficient than traditional centrifuge approaches, working its magic in under a minute instead of taking hours or days, and requires only a tiny fraction of the typical sample size. The invention could underline new approaches to applications ranging from precision bioassays to cancer diagnosis.