Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and systems for manipulating a particle, in particular for studying small particles and/or biological cellular bodies. A disclosed method comprises the steps of: providing a sample holder (3) comprising a holding space (5) for holding a sample comprising a particle (9) in a fluid medium (11); providing a driving signal, having a signal frequency, a signal amplitude and a signal power, to the sample holder generating an acoustic wave in the sample holder (3) for applying an acoustic force to the particle (9), the wave having a frequency; determining an acoustic resonance frequency of the sample holder and determining a quality factor for the sample holder with respect to the resonance frequency. An associated system (1) is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for manipulating and/or investigating objects, in particular biological objects such as cellular bodies, in a sample holder are provided. The sample holder comprises a holding space for holding a sample comprising one or more objects in a fluid medium. An acoustic wave generator is connected with the sample holder to generate an acoustic wave in the holding space exerting a force on at least part of the sample. Fluid flows through microfluidic channels in the sample holder and acoustic waves are controlled.

Abstract: A method for probing mechanical properties of cellular bodies includes: providing a plurality of particles in a fluid medium contained in a holding space of a sample holder, each of the plurality of particle being attached to a cellular body; generating a resonant bulk acoustic wave in the holding space, the resonant bulk acoustic wave exerting an acoustic force on each of the plurality of particles, each of the plurality of particles having an acoustic contrast factor and a size, the acoustic contrast factor and the size being selected such that the force exerted on a particle is larger than the force exerted on the cellular body to which the particle is attached; measuring a displacement of a particle in response to the exertion of the force on the particle, the measured displacement being associated with a mechanical property of the cellular body attached to the particle.

Abstract: A molecular manipulation system for investigating molecules, having a sample holder constructed to hold a sample comprising a plurality of molecules attached on one side to a surface in the sample holder and on another side attached to a microbead of a plurality of microbeads. The system having; an acoustic wave generator to generate an acoustic wave exerting a force on the microbeads in the sample; and a detector device to detect a response of the plurality of microbeads in the sample on the force exerted by the acoustic wave to investigate the molecules attached to the microbeads.

Abstract: A molecular manipulation system for investigating molecules, having a sample holder constructed to hold a sample comprising a plurality of molecules attached on one side to a surface in the sample holder and on another side attached to a microbead of a plurality of microbeads. The system having; an acoustic wave generator to generate an acoustic wave exerting a force on the microbeads in the sample; and a detector device to detect a response of the plurality of microbeads in the sample on the force exerted by the acoustic wave to investigate the molecules attached to the microbeads.