Emerging Functions of Electrically-induced Bubbles

Abstract

We have successfully carried out local reagent injection and perforation to materials of variety of hardness by physical and electric stimulation by bubble cavitation and plasma discharge. This synergetic effect was generated by pulse discharge of microelectrode having special tip structure. Injection to soft material such as animal cell was performed only by collapse of directional bubbles, whilst the perforation to hard materials such as plants cells or metals were achieved by synergistic effect of collapse of bubble and plasma ablation. The moment of bubble collapse and simultaneous generation of shock wave was visualized by high-speed camera and Schlieren method. This novel device we proposed has ability to perforate wide range of materials with high dynamic range, and the simultaneous reagent transportation can be applied to wide biomedical applications.