Creating new drugs takes thousands of hours of testing cells in petri dishes before they’re ready for patients. Even in 2025, this process is primarily manual, making it expensive and sometimes unreliable, which slows the development of life-saving medicines.
While tasks like pipetting and liquid handling have been automated, growing cells is much trickier. It requires multiple devices like centrifuges and incubators to work seamlessly together. The more components added, the more complex and costly the system becomes, often making it unaffordable for many labs as the equipment might not pay off before it wears out.
Engineers at a University of Bristol spin-out have unveiled acoustic wave technology that moves cells without physical contact. This breakthrough allows vital lab tasks, traditionally requiring bulky equipment, to be performed using a compact benchtop device—streamlining processes and opening new possibilities for cell handling and research.
This cutting-edge technology harnesses acoustic waves to make cells “dance,” eliminating the need for bulky lab equipment. Streamlining cell growth automation could accelerate drug discovery and open the door to personalized medicine. Doctors might one day use it to test various treatments on a patient’s cells, identifying the most effective option before administering it.
Controlling the optical properties of solids with acoustic waves
Dr. Luke Cox began with an experiment in acoustic levitation, successfully suspending a diamond mid-air against gravity. Witnessing this “magical” phenomenon, he realized its potential for handling small, delicate objects, which inspired him to explore moving cells using the same technology. Eventually, he saw its broader application in replacing many common biomedical lab processes, leading to the creation of Impulsonics.
Luke and his team have advanced the technology to perform intricate tasks like expanding cell populations. Dr. Cox highlighted its significance in accelerating drug screening processes, paving the way for discovering treatments for diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s.
Professor Bruce Drinkwater, an academic at the University of Bristol and a co-founder of Impulsonics, said, “The device is small, with a footprint half the size of a standard lab bench where previous technologies took up whole rooms. Critically, it also helps produce high-quality data quickly, which is what is needed in biomedical research.”
This invention has many potential applications in biotechnology. Dr Luke Cox concluded, “I look forward to expanding this unique technology platform to accelerate development across the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries wherever cells are grown.”
Journal Reference:
- Luke Cox. Dancing with the cells: How acoustically levitating a diamond enabled a redesign of biotech automation. Science. DOI: 10.1126/science.adw0393
Source: Tech Explorist
