1
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Ren A, Hu J, Qin C, Xia N, Yu M, Xu X, Yang H, Han M, Zhang L, Ma L. Oral administration microrobots for drug delivery. Bioact Mater 2024; 39:163-190. [PMID: 38808156 PMCID: PMC11130999 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Oral administration is the most simple, noninvasive, convenient treatment. With the increasing demands on the targeted drug delivery, the traditional oral treatment now is facing some challenges: 1) biologics how to implement the oral treatment and ensure the bioavailability is not lower than the subcutaneous injections; 2) How to achieve targeted therapy of some drugs in the gastrointestinal tract? Based on these two issues, drug delivery microrobots have shown great application prospect in oral drug delivery due to their characteristics of flexible locomotion or driven ability. Therefore, this paper summarizes various drug delivery microrobots developed in recent years and divides them into four categories according to different driving modes: magnetic-controlled drug delivery microrobots, anchored drug delivery microrobots, self-propelled drug delivery microrobots and biohybrid drug delivery microrobots. As oral drug delivery microrobots involve disciplines such as materials science, mechanical engineering, medicine, and control systems, this paper begins by introducing the gastrointestinal barriers that oral drug delivery must overcome. Subsequently, it provides an overview of typical materials involved in the design process of oral drug delivery microrobots. To enhance readers' understanding of the working principles and design process of oral drug delivery microrobots, we present a guideline for designing such microrobots. Furthermore, the current development status of various types of oral drug delivery microrobots is reviewed, summarizing their respective advantages and limitations. Finally, considering the significant concerns regarding safety and clinical translation, we discuss the challenges and prospections of clinical translation for various oral drug delivery microrobots presented in this paper, providing corresponding suggestions for addressing some existing challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- An Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jiarui Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Changwei Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Neng Xia
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin NT, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Mengfei Yu
- The Affiliated Stomatologic Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Xiaobin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Civil Engineering Materials of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of D&A for Metal-Functional Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 201804 China
| | - Huayong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Min Han
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin NT, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Liang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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2
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Rivkin B, Akbar F, Otto M, Beyer L, Paul B, Kosiba K, Gustmann T, Hufenbach J, Medina-Sánchez M. Remotely Controlled Electrochemical Degradation of Metallic Implants. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2307742. [PMID: 38326101 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202307742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Biodegradable medical implants promise to benefit patients by eliminating risks and discomfort associated with permanent implantation or surgical removal. The time until full resorption is largely determined by the implant's material composition, geometric design, and surface properties. Implants with a fixed residence time, however, cannot account for the needs of individual patients, thereby imposing limits on personalization. Here, an active Fe-based implant system is reported whose biodegradation is controlled remotely and in situ. This is achieved by incorporating a galvanic cell within the implant. An external and wireless signal is used to activate the on-board electronic circuit that controls the corrosion current between the implant body and an integrated counter electrode. This configuration leads to the accelerated degradation of the implant and allows to harvest electrochemical energy that is naturally released by corrosion. In this study, the electrochemical properties of the Fe-30Mn-1C/Pt galvanic cell model system is first investigated and high-resolution X-ray microcomputed tomography is used to evaluate the galvanic degradation of stent structures. Subsequently, a centimeter-sized active implant prototype is assembled with conventional electronic components and the remotely controlled corrosion is tested in vitro. Furthermore, strategies toward the miniaturization and full biodegradability of this system are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Rivkin
- Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW), 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Farzin Akbar
- Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW), 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Otto
- Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW), 01069, Dresden, Germany
- Institute of Materials Science, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, 09599, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Lukas Beyer
- Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW), 01069, Dresden, Germany
- Institute of Materials Science, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, 09599, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Birgit Paul
- Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW), 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Konrad Kosiba
- Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW), 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Tobias Gustmann
- Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW), 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Julia Hufenbach
- Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW), 01069, Dresden, Germany
- Institute of Materials Science, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, 09599, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Mariana Medina-Sánchez
- Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW), 01069, Dresden, Germany
- Center for Molecular Bioengineering (B CUBE), Chair of Micro- and Nano Systems, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
- CIC nanoGUNE-BRTA, Donostia-San Sebastián, 20018, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, 48013, Spain
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3
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Cao C, Mou F, Yang M, Zhang S, Zhang D, Li L, Lan T, Xiao D, Luo W, Ma H, Guan J. Harnessing Disparities in Magnetic Microswarms: From Construction to Collaborative Tasks. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2401711. [PMID: 38868929 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202401711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Individual differences in size, experience, and task specialization in natural swarms often result in heterogeneity and hierarchy, facilitating efficient and coordinated task accomplishment. Drawing inspiration from this phenomenon, a general strategy is proposed for organizing magnetic micro/nanorobots (MNRs) with apparent differences in size, shape, and properties into cohesive microswarms with tunable heterogeneity, controlled spatial hierarchy, and collaborative tasking capability. In this strategy, disparate magnetic MNRs can be manipulated to show reversible transitions between synchronization and desynchronization by elaborately regulating parameter sets of the rotating magnetic field. Utilizing these transitions, alongside local robust hydrodynamic interactions, diverse heterospecific pairings of disparate magnetic MNRs can be organized into heterogeneous microswarms, and their spatial organization can be dynamically adjusted from egalitarian to leader-follower-like hierarchies on the fly, both in open space and complex microchannels. Furthermore, when specializing the disparate MNRs with distinct functions ("division of labor") such as sensing and drug carrying, they can execute precise drug delivery targeting unknown sites in a collaborative sensing-navigating-cargo dropping sequence, demonstrating significant potential for precise tumor treatment. These findings highlight the critical roles of attribute differences and hierarchical organization in designing efficient swarming micro/nanorobots for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
| | - Fangzhi Mou
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Nanomedicine for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
| | - Manyi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
| | - Shuming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
| | - Di Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
| | - Luolin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
| | - Tong Lan
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
| | - Dunyi Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
| | - Wei Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
- Wuhan Institute of Photochemistry and Technology, 7 North Bingang Road, Wuhan, 430083, P. R. China
| | - Huiru Ma
- Wuhan Institute of Photochemistry and Technology, 7 North Bingang Road, Wuhan, 430083, P. R. China
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
| | - Jianguo Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
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4
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Xiao Y, Lei X, Zheng Z, Xiang Y, Liu YY, Peng X. Perception of motion salience shapes the emergence of collective motions. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4779. [PMID: 38839782 PMCID: PMC11153630 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49151-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the profound implications of self-organization in animal groups for collective behaviors, understanding the fundamental principles and applying them to swarm robotics remains incomplete. Here we propose a heuristic measure of perception of motion salience (MS) to quantify relative motion changes of neighbors from first-person view. Leveraging three large bird-flocking datasets, we explore how this perception of MS relates to the structure of leader-follower (LF) relations, and further perform an individual-level correlation analysis between past perception of MS and future change rate of velocity consensus. We observe prevalence of the positive correlations in real flocks, which demonstrates that individuals will accelerate the convergence of velocity with neighbors who have higher MS. This empirical finding motivates us to introduce the concept of adaptive MS-based (AMS) interaction in swarm model. Finally, we implement AMS in a swarm of ~102 miniature robots. Swarm experiments show the significant advantage of AMS in enhancing self-organization of the swarm for smooth evacuations from confined environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yandong Xiao
- College of System Engineering, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Xiaokang Lei
- College of Information and Control Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhicheng Zheng
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yalun Xiang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yang-Yu Liu
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Artificial Intelligence and Modeling, The Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Xingguang Peng
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
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5
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Lu L, Zhao H, Lu Y, Zhang Y, Wang X, Fan C, Li Z, Wu Z. Design and Control of the Magnetically Actuated Micro/Nanorobot Swarm toward Biomedical Applications. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2400414. [PMID: 38412402 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202400414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Recently, magnetically actuated micro/nanorobots hold extensive promises in biomedical applications due to their advantages of noninvasiveness, fuel-free operation, and programmable nature. While effectively promised in various fields such as targeted delivery, most past investigations are mainly displayed in magnetic control of individual micro/nanorobots. Facing practical medical use, the micro/nanorobots are required for the development of swarm control in a closed-loop control manner. This review outlines the recent developments in magnetic micro/nanorobot swarms, including their actuating fundamentals, designs, controls, and biomedical applications. The fundamental principles and interactions involved in the formation of magnetic micro/nanorobot swarms are discussed first. The recent advances in the design of artificial and biohybrid micro/nanorobot swarms, along with the control devices and methods used for swarm manipulation, are presented. Furthermore, biomedical applications that have the potential to achieve clinical application are introduced, such as imaging-guided therapy, targeted delivery, embolization, and biofilm eradication. By addressing the potential challenges discussed toward the end of this review, magnetic micro/nanorobot swarms hold promise for clinical treatments in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Lu
- School of Medicine and Health, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Hongqiao Zhao
- School of Medicine and Health, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Yucong Lu
- School of Medicine and Health, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Yuxuan Zhang
- School of Medicine and Health, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Xinran Wang
- School of Medicine and Health, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Chengjuan Fan
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Zesheng Li
- Laboratory for Space Environment and Physical Sciences, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Zhiguang Wu
- School of Medicine and Health, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
- Key Laboratory of Microsystems and Microstructures Manufacturing (Ministry of Education), Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
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6
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Zhang S, Mou F, Yu Z, Li L, Yang M, Zhang D, Ma H, Luo W, Li T, Guan J. Heterogeneous Sensor-Carrier Microswarms for Collaborative Precise Drug Delivery toward Unknown Targets with Localized Acidosis. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:5958-5967. [PMID: 38738749 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c00162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Micro/nanorobots hold the potential to revolutionize biomedicine by executing diverse tasks in hard-to-reach biological environments. Nevertheless, achieving precise drug delivery to unknown disease sites using swarming micro/nanorobots remains a significant challenge. Here we develop a heterogeneous swarm comprising sensing microrobots (sensor-bots) and drug-carrying microrobots (carrier-bots) with collaborative tasking capabilities for precise drug delivery toward unknown sites. Leveraging robust interspecific hydrodynamic interactions, the sensor-bots and carrier-bots spontaneously synchronize and self-organize into stable heterogeneous microswarms. Given that the sensor-bots can create real-time pH maps employing pH-responsive structural-color changes and the doxorubicin-loaded carrier-bots exhibit selective adhesion to acidic targets via pH-responsive charge reversal, the sensor-carrier microswarm, when exploring unknown environments, can detect and localize uncharted acidic targets, guide itself to cover the area, and finally deploy therapeutic carrier-bots precisely there. This versatile platform holds promise for treating diseases with localized acidosis and inspires future theranostic microsystems with expandability, task flexibility, and high efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Fangzhi Mou
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Zheng Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Luolin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Manyi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Di Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Huiru Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
- Wuhan Institute of Photochemistry and Technology, 7 North Bingang Road, Wuhan 430083, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
- Wuhan Institute of Photochemistry and Technology, 7 North Bingang Road, Wuhan 430083, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianlong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianguo Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
- Wuhan Institute of Photochemistry and Technology, 7 North Bingang Road, Wuhan 430083, People's Republic of China
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7
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Ussia M, Urso M, Oral CM, Peng X, Pumera M. Magnetic Microrobot Swarms with Polymeric Hands Catching Bacteria and Microplastics in Water. ACS NANO 2024; 18:13171-13183. [PMID: 38717036 PMCID: PMC11112980 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c02115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
The forefront of micro- and nanorobot research involves the development of smart swimming micromachines emulating the complexity of natural systems, such as the swarming and collective behaviors typically observed in animals and microorganisms, for efficient task execution. This study introduces magnetically controlled microrobots that possess polymeric sequestrant "hands" decorating a magnetic core. Under the influence of external magnetic fields, the functionalized magnetic beads dynamically self-assemble from individual microparticles into well-defined rotating planes of diverse dimensions, allowing modulation of their propulsion speed, and exhibiting a collective motion. These mobile microrobotic swarms can actively capture free-swimming bacteria and dispersed microplastics "on-the-fly", thereby cleaning aquatic environments. Unlike conventional methods, these microrobots can be collected from the complex media and can release the captured contaminants in a second vessel in a controllable manner, that is, using ultrasound, offering a sustainable solution for repeated use in decontamination processes. Additionally, the residual water is subjected to UV irradiation to eliminate any remaining bacteria, providing a comprehensive cleaning solution. In summary, this study shows a swarming microrobot design for water decontamination processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Ussia
- Future
Energy and Innovation Laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 123, Brno 61200, Czech Republic
| | - Mario Urso
- Future
Energy and Innovation Laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 123, Brno 61200, Czech Republic
| | - Cagatay M. Oral
- Future
Energy and Innovation Laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 123, Brno 61200, Czech Republic
| | - Xia Peng
- Future
Energy and Innovation Laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 123, Brno 61200, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Pumera
- Future
Energy and Innovation Laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 123, Brno 61200, Czech Republic
- Advanced
Nanorobots & Multiscale Robotics Laboratory, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, VSB - Technical
University of Ostrava, 17. listopadu 2172/15, Ostrava 70800, Czech Republic
- Department
of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Hsueh-Shih Road 91, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Yonsei-ro
50, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
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8
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Wang F, Zhang Y, Jin D, Jiang Z, Liu Y, Knoll A, Jiang H, Ying Y, Zhou M. Magnetic Soft Microrobot Design for Cell Grasping and Transportation. CYBORG AND BIONIC SYSTEMS 2024; 5:0109. [PMID: 38680536 PMCID: PMC11052606 DOI: 10.34133/cbsystems.0109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Manipulating cells at a small scale is widely acknowledged as a complex and challenging task, especially when it comes to cell grasping and transportation. Various precise methods have been developed to remotely control the movement of microrobots. However, the manipulation of micro-objects necessitates the use of end-effectors. This paper presents a study on the control of movement and grasping operations of a magnetic microrobot, utilizing only 3 pairs of electromagnetic coils. A specially designed microgripper is employed on the microrobot for efficient cell grasping and transportation. To ensure precise grasping, a bending deformation model of the microgripper is formulated and subsequently validated. To achieve precise and reliable transportation of cells to specific positions, an approach that combines an extended Kalman filter with a model predictive control method is adopted to accomplish the trajectory tracking task. Through experiments, we observe that by applying the proposed control strategy, the mean absolute error of path tracking is found to be less than 0.155 mm. Remarkably, this value accounts for only 1.55% of the microrobot's size, demonstrating the efficacy and accuracy of our control strategy. Furthermore, an experiment involving the grasping and transportation of a zebrafish embryonic cell (diameter: 800 μm) is successfully conducted. The results of this experiment not only validate the precision and effectiveness of the proposed microrobot and its associated models but also highlight its tremendous potential for cell manipulation in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanghao Wang
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Youchao Zhang
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Daoyuan Jin
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhongliang Jiang
- TUM School of Computation, Information, and Technology, Garching 85748, Germany
| | - Yaqian Liu
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Alois Knoll
- TUM School of Computation, Information, and Technology, Garching 85748, Germany
| | - Huanyu Jiang
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yibin Ying
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Mingchuan Zhou
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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9
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Wang Y, Chen H, Xie L, Liu J, Zhang L, Yu J. Swarm Autonomy: From Agent Functionalization to Machine Intelligence. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2312956. [PMID: 38653192 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202312956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Swarm behaviors are common in nature, where individual organisms collaborate via perception, communication, and adaptation. Emulating these dynamics, large groups of active agents can self-organize through localized interactions, giving rise to complex swarm behaviors, which exhibit potential for applications across various domains. This review presents a comprehensive summary and perspective of synthetic swarms, to bridge the gap between the microscale individual agents and potential applications of synthetic swarms. It is begun by examining active agents, the fundamental units of synthetic swarms, to understand the origins of their motility and functionality in the presence of external stimuli. Then inter-agent communications and agent-environment communications that contribute to the swarm generation are summarized. Furthermore, the swarm behaviors reported to date and the emergence of machine intelligence within these behaviors are reviewed. Eventually, the applications enabled by distinct synthetic swarms are summarized. By discussing the emergent machine intelligence in swarm behaviors, insights are offered into the design and deployment of autonomous synthetic swarms for real-world applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibin Wang
- School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, 518172, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society, Shenzhen, 518172, China
| | - Hui Chen
- School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, 518172, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society, Shenzhen, 518172, China
| | - Leiming Xie
- School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, 518172, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society, Shenzhen, 518172, China
| | - Jinbo Liu
- School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, 518172, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society, Shenzhen, 518172, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Jiangfan Yu
- School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, 518172, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society, Shenzhen, 518172, China
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10
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Tran HH, Watkins A, Oh MJ, Babeer A, Schaer TP, Steager E, Koo H. Targeting biofilm infections in humans using small scale robotics. Trends Biotechnol 2024; 42:479-495. [PMID: 37968157 PMCID: PMC11104480 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
The eradication of drug-resistant microbial biofilms remains an unresolved global health challenge. Small-scale robotics are providing innovative therapeutic and diagnostic approaches with high precision and efficacy. These approaches are rapidly moving from proof-of-concept studies to translational biomedical applications using ex vivo, animal, and clinical models. Here, we discuss the fundamental and translational aspects of how microrobots target the infection sites to disrupt the structural and functional traits of biofilms and their antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. We emphasize current approaches of mechanochemical disruption and on-site drug delivery that are supported by in vivo models and preclinical testing, while also highlighting diagnostics potential. We also discuss clinical translation challenges and provide perspectives for development of microrobotics approaches to combat biofilm infections and biofouling in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Huy Tran
- School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA; School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Amanda Watkins
- School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA; Department of Clinical Studies New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Min Jun Oh
- School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA; School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Alaa Babeer
- Department of Oral Biology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Thomas P Schaer
- Department of Clinical Studies New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Edward Steager
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
| | - Hyun Koo
- School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
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11
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Wu G, Xian W, You Q, Zhang J, Chen X. AcousticRobots: Smart acoustically powered micro-/nanoswimmers for precise biomedical applications. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2024; 207:115201. [PMID: 38331256 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2024.115201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Although nanotechnology has evolutionarily progressed in biomedical field over the past decades, achieving satisfactory therapeutic effects remains difficult with limited delivery efficiency. Ultrasound could provide a deep penetration and maneuverable actuation to efficiently power micro-/nanoswimmers with little harm, offering an emerging and fascinating alternative to the active delivery platform. Recent advances in novel fabrication, controllable concepts like intelligent swarm and the integration of hybrid propulsions have promoted its function and potential for medical applications. In this review, we will summarize the mechanisms and types of ultrasonically propelled micro/nanorobots (termed here as "AcousticRobots"), including the interactions between AcousticRobots and acoustic field, practical design considerations (e.g., component, size, shape), the synthetic methods, surface modification, controllable behaviors, and the advantages when combined with other propulsion approaches. The representative biomedical applications of functional AcousticRobots are also highlighted, including drug delivery, invasive surgery, eradication on the surrounding bio-environment, cell manipulation, detection, and imaging, etc. We conclude by discussing the challenges and outlook of AcousticRobots in biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gege Wu
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore; Nanomedicine Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore
| | - Wei Xian
- Siansonic Technology Limited, No.1, Xingguang 5th Street, Ciqu, Tongzhou District, Beijing 101111, China
| | - Qing You
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore; Nanomedicine Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore; Clinical Imaging Research Centre, Centre for Translational Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore.
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore; Nanomedicine Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore; Clinical Imaging Research Centre, Centre for Translational Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore.
| | - Xiaoyuan Chen
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore; Nanomedicine Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore; Clinical Imaging Research Centre, Centre for Translational Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore; Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Singapore.
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12
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Nie ZZ, Wang M, Yang H. Self-sustainable autonomous soft actuators. Commun Chem 2024; 7:58. [PMID: 38503863 PMCID: PMC10951225 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01142-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Self-sustainable autonomous locomotion is a non-equilibrium phenomenon and an advanced intelligence of soft-bodied organisms that exhibit the abilities of perception, feedback, decision-making, and self-sustainment. However, artificial self-sustaining architectures are often derived from algorithms and onboard modules of soft robots, resulting in complex fabrication, limited mobility, and low sensitivity. Self-sustainable autonomous soft actuators have emerged as naturally evolving systems that do not require human intervention. With shape-morphing materials integrating in their structural design, soft actuators can direct autonomous responses to complex environmental changes and achieve robust self-sustaining motions under sustained stimulation. This perspective article discusses the recent advances in self-sustainable autonomous soft actuators. Specifically, shape-morphing materials, motion characteristics, built-in negative feedback loops, and constant stimulus response patterns used in autonomous systems are summarized. Artificial self-sustaining autonomous concepts, modes, and deformation-induced functional applications of soft actuators are described. The current challenges and future opportunities for self-sustainable actuation systems are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Zhou Nie
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Institute of Advanced Materials, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Meng Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Institute of Advanced Materials, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Hong Yang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Institute of Advanced Materials, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
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13
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Ali A, Kim H, Torati SR, Kang Y, Reddy V, Kim K, Yoon J, Lim B, Kim C. Magnetic Lateral Ladder for Unidirectional Transport of Microrobots: Design Principles and Potential Applications of Cells-on-Chip. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2305528. [PMID: 37845030 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202305528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Functionalized microrobots, which are directionally manipulated in a controlled and precise manner for specific tasks, face challenges. However, magnetic field-based controls constrain all microrobots to move in a coordinated manner, limiting their functions and independent behaviors. This article presents a design principle for achieving unidirectional microrobot transport using an asymmetric magnetic texture in the shape of a lateral ladder, which the authors call the "railway track." An asymmetric magnetic energy distribution along the axis allows for the continuous movement of microrobots in a fixed direction regardless of the direction of the magnetic field rotation. The authors demonstrated precise control and simple utilization of this method. Specifically, by placing magnetic textures with different directionalities, an integrated cell/particle collector can collect microrobots distributed in a large area and move them along a complex trajectory to a predetermined location. The authors can leverage the versatile capabilities offered by this texture concept, including hierarchical isolation, switchable collection, programmable pairing, selective drug-response test, and local fluid mixing for target objects. The results demonstrate the importance of microrobot directionality in achieving complex individual control. This novel concept represents significant advancement over conventional magnetic field-based control technology and paves the way for further research in biofunctionalized microrobotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbas Ali
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeonseol Kim
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Sri Ramulu Torati
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
- Center for Bioelectronics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23508, USA
| | - Yumin Kang
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Venu Reddy
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
- Nanotechnology Research Center, SRKR Engineering College, Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, 534204, India
| | - Keonmok Kim
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Jonghwan Yoon
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Byeonghwa Lim
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - CheolGi Kim
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
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14
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Dong H, Lin J, Tao Y, Jia Y, Sun L, Li WJ, Sun H. AI-enhanced biomedical micro/nanorobots in microfluidics. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:1419-1440. [PMID: 38174821 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00909b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Human beings encompass sophisticated microcirculation and microenvironments, incorporating a broad spectrum of microfluidic systems that adopt fundamental roles in orchestrating physiological mechanisms. In vitro recapitulation of human microenvironments based on lab-on-a-chip technology represents a critical paradigm to better understand the intricate mechanisms. Moreover, the advent of micro/nanorobotics provides brand new perspectives and dynamic tools for elucidating the complex process in microfluidics. Currently, artificial intelligence (AI) has endowed micro/nanorobots (MNRs) with unprecedented benefits, such as material synthesis, optimal design, fabrication, and swarm behavior. Using advanced AI algorithms, the motion control, environment perception, and swarm intelligence of MNRs in microfluidics are significantly enhanced. This emerging interdisciplinary research trend holds great potential to propel biomedical research to the forefront and make valuable contributions to human health. Herein, we initially introduce the AI algorithms integral to the development of MNRs. We briefly revisit the components, designs, and fabrication techniques adopted by robots in microfluidics with an emphasis on the application of AI. Then, we review the latest research pertinent to AI-enhanced MNRs, focusing on their motion control, sensing abilities, and intricate collective behavior in microfluidics. Furthermore, we spotlight biomedical domains that are already witnessing or will undergo game-changing evolution based on AI-enhanced MNRs. Finally, we identify the current challenges that hinder the practical use of the pioneering interdisciplinary technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Dong
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China.
- School of Mechatronics Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Jiawen Lin
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China.
| | - Yihui Tao
- Department of Automation Control and System Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Yuan Jia
- Sino-German College of Intelligent Manufacturing, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lining Sun
- School of Mechatronics Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Wen Jung Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hao Sun
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China.
- School of Mechatronics Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
- Research Center of Aerospace Mechanism and Control, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
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15
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Wang Q, Wang Q, Ning Z, Chan KF, Jiang J, Wang Y, Su L, Jiang S, Wang B, Ip BYM, Ko H, Leung TWH, Chiu PWY, Yu SCH, Zhang L. Tracking and navigation of a microswarm under laser speckle contrast imaging for targeted delivery. Sci Robot 2024; 9:eadh1978. [PMID: 38381838 DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.adh1978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Micro/nanorobotic swarms consisting of numerous tiny building blocks show great potential in biomedical applications because of their collective active delivery ability, enhanced imaging contrast, and environment-adaptive capability. However, in vivo real-time imaging and tracking of micro/nanorobotic swarms remain a challenge, considering the limited imaging size and spatial-temporal resolution of current imaging modalities. Here, we propose a strategy that enables real-time tracking and navigation of a microswarm in stagnant and flowing blood environments by using laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI), featuring full-field imaging, high temporal-spatial resolution, and noninvasiveness. The change in dynamic convection induced by the microswarm can be quantitatively investigated by analyzing the perfusion unit (PU) distribution, offering an alternative approach to investigate the swarm behavior and its interaction with various blood environments. Both the microswarm and surrounding environment were monitored and imaged by LSCI in real time, and the images were further analyzed for simultaneous swarm tracking and navigation in the complex vascular system. Moreover, our strategy realized real-time tracking and delivery of a microswarm in vivo, showing promising potential for LSCI-guided active delivery of microswarm in the vascular system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinglong Wang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
| | - Qianqian Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, School of Mechanical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhipeng Ning
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
| | - Kai Fung Chan
- Chow Yuk Ho Technology Centre for Innovative Medicine, CUHK, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
- Multi-Scale Medical Robotics Center, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jialin Jiang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuqiong Wang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
| | - Lin Su
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
| | - Shuai Jiang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
| | - Ben Wang
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bonaventure Yiu Ming Ip
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, CUHK, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
| | - Ho Ko
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, CUHK, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
| | - Thomas Wai Hong Leung
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, CUHK, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
| | - Philip Wai Yan Chiu
- Chow Yuk Ho Technology Centre for Innovative Medicine, CUHK, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
- Multi-Scale Medical Robotics Center, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Surgery, CUHK, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
| | - Simon Chun Ho Yu
- Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, CUHK, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
- Chow Yuk Ho Technology Centre for Innovative Medicine, CUHK, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
- Multi-Scale Medical Robotics Center, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Surgery, CUHK, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
- CUHK T Stone Robotics Institute, CUHK, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
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16
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Feng W, He Q, Zhang L. Embedded Physical Intelligence in Liquid Crystalline Polymer Actuators and Robots. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2312313. [PMID: 38375751 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202312313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Responsive materials possess the inherent capacity to autonomously sense and respond to various external stimuli, demonstrating physical intelligence. Among the diverse array of responsive materials, liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) stand out for their remarkable reversible stimuli-responsive shape-morphing properties and their potential for creating soft robots. While numerous reviews have extensively detailed the progress in developing LCP-based actuators and robots, there exists a need for comprehensive summaries that elucidate the underlying principles governing actuation and how physical intelligence is embedded within these systems. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in developing actuators and robots endowed with physical intelligence using LCPs. This review is structured around the stimulus conditions and categorizes the studies involving responsive LCPs based on the fundamental control and stimulation logic and approach. Specifically, three main categories are examined: systems that respond to changing stimuli, those operating under constant stimuli, and those equip with learning and logic control capabilities. Furthermore, the persisting challenges that need to be addressed are outlined and discuss the future avenues of research in this dynamic field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Feng
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Qiguang He
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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17
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Gao Y, Guo Y, Yang Y, Tang Y, Wang B, Yan Q, Chen X, Cai J, Fang L, Xiong Z, Gao F, Wu C, Wang J, Tang J, Shi L, Li D. Magnetically Manipulated Optoelectronic Hybrid Microrobots for Optically Targeted Non-Genetic Neuromodulation. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2305632. [PMID: 37805826 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202305632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Optically controlled neuromodulation is a promising approach for basic research of neural circuits and the clinical treatment of neurological diseases. However, developing a non-invasive and well-controllable system to deliver accurate and effective neural stimulation is challenging. Micro/nanorobots have shown great potential in various biomedical applications because of their precise controllability. Here, a magnetically-manipulated optoelectronic hybrid microrobot (MOHR) is presented for optically targeted non-genetic neuromodulation. By integrating the magnetic component into the metal-insulator-semiconductor junction design, the MOHR has excellent magnetic controllability and optoelectronic properties. The MOHR displays a variety of magnetic manipulation modes that enables precise and efficient navigation in different biofluids. Furthermore, the MOHR could achieve precision neuromodulation at the single-cell level because of its accurate targeting ability. This neuromodulation is achieved by the MOHR's photoelectric response to visible light irradiation, which enhances the excitability of the targeted cells. Finally, it is shown that the well-controllable MOHRs effectively restore neuronal activity in neurons damaged by β-amyloid, a pathogenic agent of Alzheimer's disease. By coupling precise controllability with efficient optoelectronic properties, the hybrid microrobot system is a promising strategy for targeted on-demand optical neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Gao
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Supramolecular Coordination Materials and Applications, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China
| | - Yuan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China
- JNU-HKUST Joint Laboratory for Neuroscience and Innovative Drug Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China
| | - Yaorong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China
- JNU-HKUST Joint Laboratory for Neuroscience and Innovative Drug Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China
| | - Yanping Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China
- JNU-HKUST Joint Laboratory for Neuroscience and Innovative Drug Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China
| | - Biao Wang
- School of Information Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, P. R. China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, 201210, P. R. China
| | - Qihang Yan
- Wireless and Smart Bioelectronics Lab, School of Biomedical Engineering, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, P. R. China
| | - Xiyu Chen
- School of Information Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, P. R. China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, 201210, P. R. China
| | - Junxiang Cai
- School of Information Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, P. R. China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, 201210, P. R. China
| | - Li Fang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China
| | - Ze Xiong
- Wireless and Smart Bioelectronics Lab, School of Biomedical Engineering, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, P. R. China
| | - Fei Gao
- School of Information Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, P. R. China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, 201210, P. R. China
| | - Changjin Wu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, 999077, P. R. China
| | - Jizhuang Wang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Supramolecular Coordination Materials and Applications, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China
| | - Jinyao Tang
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, 999077, P. R. China
| | - Lei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China
- JNU-HKUST Joint Laboratory for Neuroscience and Innovative Drug Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China
| | - Dan Li
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Supramolecular Coordination Materials and Applications, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China
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18
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Del Campo Fonseca A, Ahmed D. Ultrasound robotics for precision therapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2024; 205:115164. [PMID: 38145721 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.115164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the application of microrobots in precision therapy has gained significant attention. The small size and maneuverability of these micromachines enable them to potentially access regions that are difficult to reach using traditional methods; thus, reducing off-target toxicities and maximizing treatment effectiveness. Specifically, acoustic actuation has emerged as a promising method to exert control. By harnessing the power of acoustic energy, these small machines potentially navigate the body, assemble at the desired sites, and deliver therapies with enhanced precision and effectiveness. Amidst the enthusiasm surrounding these miniature agents, their translation to clinical environments has proven difficult. The primary objectives of this review are threefold: firstly, to offer an overview of the fundamental acoustic principles employed in the field of microrobots; secondly, to assess their current applications in medical therapies, encompassing tissue targeting, drug delivery or even cell infiltration; and lastly, to delve into the continuous efforts aimed at integrating acoustic microrobots into in vivo applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexia Del Campo Fonseca
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Acoustic Robotics Systems Lab, ETH Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.
| | - Daniel Ahmed
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Acoustic Robotics Systems Lab, ETH Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.
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19
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Tian M, Ma Z, Yang GZ. Micro/nanosystems for controllable drug delivery to the brain. Innovation (N Y) 2024; 5:100548. [PMID: 38161522 PMCID: PMC10757293 DOI: 10.1016/j.xinn.2023.100548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Drug delivery to the brain is crucial in the treatment for central nervous system disorders. While significant progress has been made in recent years, there are still major challenges in achieving controllable drug delivery to the brain. Unmet clinical needs arise from various factors, including controlled drug transport, handling large drug doses, methods for crossing biological barriers, the use of imaging guidance, and effective models for analyzing drug delivery. Recent advances in micro/nanosystems have shown promise in addressing some of these challenges. These include the utilization of microfluidic platforms to test and validate the drug delivery process in a controlled and biomimetic setting, the development of novel micro/nanocarriers for large drug loads across the blood-brain barrier, and the implementation of micro-intervention systems for delivering drugs through intraparenchymal or peripheral routes. In this article, we present a review of the latest developments in micro/nanosystems for controllable drug delivery to the brain. We also delve into the relevant diseases, biological barriers, and conventional methods. In addition, we discuss future prospects and the development of emerging robotic micro/nanosystems equipped with directed transportation, real-time image guidance, and closed-loop control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhen Tian
- Institute of Medical Robotics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Zhichao Ma
- Institute of Medical Robotics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Guang-Zhong Yang
- Institute of Medical Robotics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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20
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Lee SY, Schönhöfer PWA, Glotzer SC. Complex motion of steerable vesicular robots filled with active colloidal rods. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22773. [PMID: 38123626 PMCID: PMC10733302 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49314-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
While the collective motion of active particles has been studied extensively, effective strategies to navigate particle swarms without external guidance remain elusive. We introduce a method to control the trajectories of two-dimensional swarms of active rod-like particles by confining the particles to rigid bounding membranes (vesicles) with non-uniform curvature. We show that the propelling agents spontaneously form clusters at the membrane wall and collectively propel the vesicle, turning it into an active superstructure. To further guide the motion of the superstructure, we add discontinuous features to the rigid membrane boundary in the form of a kinked tip, which acts as a steering component to direct the motion of the vesicle. We report that the system's geometrical and material properties, such as the aspect ratio and Péclet number of the active rods as well as the kink angle and flexibility of the membrane, determine the stacking of active particles close to the kinked confinement and induce a diverse set of dynamical behaviors of the superstructure, including linear and circular motion both in the direction of, and opposite to, the kink. From a systematic study of these various behaviors, we design vesicles with switchable and reversible locomotions by tuning the confinement parameters. The observed phenomena suggest a promising mechanism for particle transportation and could be used as a basic element to navigate active matter through complex and tortuous environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Y Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Philipp W A Schönhöfer
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Sharon C Glotzer
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA.
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA.
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21
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Zhou J, Li M, Li N, Zhou Y, Wang J, Jiao N. System integration of magnetic medical microrobots: from design to control. Front Robot AI 2023; 10:1330960. [PMID: 38169802 PMCID: PMC10758462 DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2023.1330960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Magnetic microrobots are ideal for medical applications owing to their deep tissue penetration, precise control, and flexible movement. After decades of development, various magnetic microrobots have been used to achieve medical functions such as targeted delivery, cell manipulation, and minimally invasive surgery. This review introduces the research status and latest progress in the design and control systems of magnetic medical microrobots from a system integration perspective and summarizes the advantages and limitations of the research to provide a reference for developers. Finally, the future development direction of magnetic medical microrobot design and control systems are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjian Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mengyue Li
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Na Li
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuting Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jingyi Wang
- College of Information and Electrical Engineering, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Niandong Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
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22
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Cao Y, Yang Z, Hao B, Wang X, Cai M, Qi Z, Sun B, Wang Q, Zhang L. Magnetic Continuum Robot with Intraoperative Magnetic Moment Programming. Soft Robot 2023; 10:1209-1223. [PMID: 37406287 DOI: 10.1089/soro.2022.0202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Magnetic continuum robots (MCRs), which are free of complicated structural designs for transmission, can be miniaturized and are therefore widely used in the medical field. However, the deformation shapes of different segments, including deflection directions and curvatures, are difficult to control simultaneously under an external programmable magnetic field. This is because the latest MCRs have designs with an invariable magnetic moment combination or profile of one or more actuating units. Therefore, the limited dexterity of the deformation shape causes the existing MCRs to collide readily with their surroundings or makes them unable to approach difficult-to-reach regions. These prolonged collisions are unnecessary or even hazardous, especially for catheters or similar medical devices. In this study, a novel magnetic moment intraoperatively programmable continuum robot (MMPCR) is introduced. By applying the proposed magnetic moment programming method, the MMPCR can deform under three modalities, that is, J, C, and S shapes. Additionally, the deflection directions and curvatures of different segments in the MMPCR can be modulated as desired. Furthermore, the magnetic moment programming and MMPCR kinematics are modeled, numerically simulated, and experimentally validated. The experimental results exhibit a mean deflection angle error of 3.3° and correspond well with simulation results. Comparisons between navigation capacities of the MMPCR and MCR demonstrate that the MMPCR has a higher capacity for dexterous deformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfei Cao
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhengxin Yang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China
| | - Bo Hao
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mingxue Cai
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhaoyang Qi
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Bonan Sun
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Qinglong Wang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Chow Yuk Ho Technology Center for Innovative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK T Stone Robotics Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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23
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Urso M, Ussia M, Peng X, Oral CM, Pumera M. Reconfigurable self-assembly of photocatalytic magnetic microrobots for water purification. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6969. [PMID: 37914692 PMCID: PMC10620202 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42674-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of artificial small-scale robotic swarms with nature-mimicking collective behaviors represents the frontier of research in robotics. While microrobot swarming under magnetic manipulation has been extensively explored, light-induced self-organization of micro- and nanorobots is still challenging. This study demonstrates the interaction-controlled, reconfigurable, reversible, and active self-assembly of TiO2/α-Fe2O3 microrobots, consisting of peanut-shaped α-Fe2O3 (hematite) microparticles synthesized by a hydrothermal method and covered with a thin layer of TiO2 by atomic layer deposition (ALD). Due to their photocatalytic and ferromagnetic properties, microrobots autonomously move in water under light irradiation, while a magnetic field precisely controls their direction. In the presence of H2O2 fuel, concentration gradients around the illuminated microrobots result in mutual attraction by phoretic interactions, inducing their spontaneous organization into self-propelled clusters. In the dark, clusters reversibly reconfigure into microchains where microrobots are aligned due to magnetic dipole-dipole interactions. Microrobots' active motion and photocatalytic properties were investigated for water remediation from pesticides, obtaining the rapid degradation of the extensively used, persistent, and hazardous herbicide 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4D). This study potentially impacts the realization of future intelligent adaptive metamachines and the application of light-powered self-propelled micro- and nanomotors toward the degradation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) or micro- and nanoplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Urso
- Future Energy and Innovation Laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 123, 61200, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Ussia
- Future Energy and Innovation Laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 123, 61200, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Xia Peng
- Future Energy and Innovation Laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 123, 61200, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Cagatay M Oral
- Future Energy and Innovation Laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 123, 61200, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Pumera
- Future Energy and Innovation Laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 123, 61200, Brno, Czech Republic.
- Advanced Nanorobots & Multiscale Robotics Laboratory, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, 17. listopadu 2172/15, 70800, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Hsueh-Shih Road 91, 40402, Taichung, Taiwan.
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Yonsei-ro 50, Seodaemun-gu, 03722, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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24
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Liu X, Wu H, Wu S, Qin H, Zhang T, Lin Y, Zheng X, Li B. Optically Programmable Living Microrouter in Vivo. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2304103. [PMID: 37749869 PMCID: PMC10646234 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
With high reconfigurability and swarming intelligence, programmable medical micromachines (PMMs) represent a revolution in microrobots for executing complex coordinated tasks, especially for dynamic routing of various targets along their respective routes. However, it is difficult to achieve a biocompatible implantation into the body due to their exogenous building blocks. Herein, a living microrouter based on an organic integration of endogenous red blood cells (RBCs), programmable scanning optical tweezers and flexible optofluidic strategy is reported. By harvesting energy from a designed optical force landscape, five RBCs are optically rotated in a controlled velocity and direction, under which, a specific actuation flow is achieved to exert the well-defined hydrodynamic forces on various biological targets, thus enabling a selective routing by integrating three successive functions, i.e., dynamic input, inner processing, and controlled output. Benefited from the optofluidic manipulation, various blood cells, such as the platelets and white blood cells, are transported toward the damaged vessel and cell debris for the dynamic hemostasis and targeted clearance, respectively. Moreover, the microrouter enables a precise transport of nanodrugs for active and targeted delivery in a large quantity. The proposed RBC microrouter might provide a biocompatible medical platform for cell separation, drug delivery, and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoshuai Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of NanophotonicsJinan UniversityGuangzhou511443China
| | - Huaying Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of NanophotonicsJinan UniversityGuangzhou511443China
| | - Shuai Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of NanophotonicsJinan UniversityGuangzhou511443China
| | - Haifeng Qin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of NanophotonicsJinan UniversityGuangzhou511443China
| | - Tiange Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of NanophotonicsJinan UniversityGuangzhou511443China
| | - Yufeng Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of NanophotonicsJinan UniversityGuangzhou511443China
| | - Xianchuang Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of NanophotonicsJinan UniversityGuangzhou511443China
| | - Baojun Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of NanophotonicsJinan UniversityGuangzhou511443China
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25
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Liu J, Li L, Cao C, Feng Z, Liu Y, Ma H, Luo W, Guan J, Mou F. Swarming Multifunctional Heater-Thermometer Nanorobots for Precise Feedback Hyperthermia Delivery. ACS NANO 2023; 17:16731-16742. [PMID: 37651715 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c03131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Micro-/nanorobots (MNRs) are envisioned to act as "motile-targeting" platforms for biomedical tasks due to their ability to propel and navigate in challenging, hard-to-reach biological environments. However, it remains a great challenge for current swarming MNRs to accurately report and regulate therapeutic doses during disease treatment. Here we present the development of swarming multifunctional heater-thermometer nanorobots (HT-NRs) and their application in precise feedback photothermal hyperthermia delivery. The HT-NRs are designed as photothermal-responsive photonic nanochains consisting of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles arranged periodically in one dimension and encapsulated in a temperature-responsive hydrogel shell. The HT-NRs exhibit energetic and controllable swarming motions under a rotating magnetic field, while simultaneously functioning as motile nanoheaters and nanothermometers, utilizing their photothermal conversion and (photo)thermal-responsive structural color changes (photothermochromism). Consequently, the HT-NRs can be quickly deployed to a remote target area (e.g., a superficial tumor lesion) using their collective motion and selectively eliminate diseased cells in a specific targeted region by utilizing their self-reporting photothermochromism as visual feedback for precisely regulating external light irradiation. This work may inspire the development of intelligent multifunctional theranostic micro-/nanorobots and their practical applications in precise disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Luolin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuan Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Ziqi Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Yun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Huiru Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
- Wuhan Institute of Photochemistry and Technology, 7 North Bingang Road, Wuhan 430083, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
- Wuhan Institute of Photochemistry and Technology, 7 North Bingang Road, Wuhan 430083, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianguo Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
- Wuhan Institute of Photochemistry and Technology, 7 North Bingang Road, Wuhan 430083, People's Republic of China
| | - Fangzhi Mou
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
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26
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Lee JG, Raj RR, Day NB, Shields CW. Microrobots for Biomedicine: Unsolved Challenges and Opportunities for Translation. ACS NANO 2023; 17:14196-14204. [PMID: 37494584 PMCID: PMC10928690 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c03723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Microrobots are being explored for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery, biological cargo transport, and minimally invasive surgery. However, current efforts largely focus on proof-of-concept studies with nontranslatable materials through a "design-and-apply" approach, limiting the potential for clinical adaptation. While these proof-of-concept studies have been key to advancing microrobot technologies, we believe that the distinguishing capabilities of microrobots will be most readily brought to patient bedsides through a "design-by-problem" approach, which involves focusing on unsolved problems to inform the design of microrobots with practical capabilities. As outlined below, we propose that the clinical translation of microrobots will be accelerated by a judicious choice of target applications, improved delivery considerations, and the rational selection of translation-ready biomaterials, ultimately reducing patient burden and enhancing the efficacy of therapeutic drugs for difficult-to-treat diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - C. Wyatt Shields
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, 80303, USA
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27
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Gardi G, Sitti M. On-Demand Breaking of Action-Reaction Reciprocity between Magnetic Microdisks Using Global Stimuli. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 131:058301. [PMID: 37595233 PMCID: PMC7615123 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.131.058301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
Coupled physical interactions induce emergent collective behaviors of many interacting objects. Nonreciprocity in the interactions generates unexpected behaviors. There is a lack of experimental model system that switches between the reciprocal and nonreciprocal regime on demand. Here, we study a system of magnetic microdisks that breaks action-reaction reciprocity via fluid-mediated hydrodynamic interactions, on demand. Via experiments and simulations, we demonstrate that nonreciprocal interactions generate self-propulsion-like behaviors of a pair of disks; group separation in collective of magnetically nonidentical disks; and decouples a part of the group from the rest. Our results could help in developing controllable microrobot collectives. Our approach highlights the effect of global stimuli in generating nonreciprocal interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Gardi
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
- Department of Physics, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Metin Sitti
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
- School of Medicine and College of Engineering, Koç University, 34450 Istanbul, Turkey
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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28
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Ma ZC, Fan J, Wang H, Chen W, Yang GZ, Han B. Microfluidic Approaches for Microactuators: From Fabrication, Actuation, to Functionalization. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2300469. [PMID: 36855777 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202300469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Microactuators can autonomously convert external energy into specific mechanical motions. With the feature sizes varying from the micrometer to millimeter scale, microactuators offer many operation and control possibilities for miniaturized devices. In recent years, advanced microfluidic techniques have revolutionized the fabrication, actuation, and functionalization of microactuators. Microfluidics can not only facilitate fabrication with continuously changing materials but also deliver various signals to stimulate the microactuators as desired, and consequently improve microfluidic chips with multiple functions. Herein, this cross-field that systematically correlates microactuator properties and microfluidic functions is comprehensively reviewed. The fabrication strategies are classified into two types according to the flow state of the microfluids: stop-flow and continuous-flow prototyping. The working mechanism of microactuators in microfluidic chips is discussed in detail. Finally, the applications of microactuator-enriched functional chips, which include tunable imaging devices, micromanipulation tools, micromotors, and microsensors, are summarized. The existing challenges and future perspectives are also discussed. It is believed that with the rapid progress of this cutting-edge field, intelligent microsystems may realize high-throughput manipulation, characterization, and analysis of tiny objects and find broad applications in various fields, such as tissue engineering, micro/nanorobotics, and analytical devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo-Chen Ma
- Department of Automation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Key Laboratory of System Control and Information Processing, Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Intelligent Control and Management, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Institute of Medical Robotics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Jiahao Fan
- Department of Automation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Key Laboratory of System Control and Information Processing, Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Intelligent Control and Management, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Hesheng Wang
- Department of Automation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Key Laboratory of System Control and Information Processing, Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Intelligent Control and Management, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Weidong Chen
- Department of Automation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Key Laboratory of System Control and Information Processing, Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Intelligent Control and Management, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Institute of Medical Robotics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Guang-Zhong Yang
- Institute of Medical Robotics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Bing Han
- Institute of Medical Robotics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
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29
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Sarabi MR, Karagoz AA, Yetisen AK, Tasoglu S. 3D-Printed Microrobots: Translational Challenges. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1099. [PMID: 37374684 DOI: 10.3390/mi14061099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
The science of microrobots is accelerating towards the creation of new functionalities for biomedical applications such as targeted delivery of agents, surgical procedures, tracking and imaging, and sensing. Using magnetic properties to control the motion of microrobots for these applications is emerging. Here, 3D printing methods are introduced for the fabrication of microrobots and their future perspectives are discussed to elucidate the path for enabling their clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ahmet Agah Karagoz
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Koç University, Istanbul 34450, Türkiye
- Koç University Is Bank Artificial Intelligence Lab (KUIS AI Lab), Koç University, Istanbul 34450, Türkiye
| | - Ali K Yetisen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Savas Tasoglu
- Koç University Is Bank Artificial Intelligence Lab (KUIS AI Lab), Koç University, Istanbul 34450, Türkiye
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Koç University, Istanbul 34450, Türkiye
- Koç University Translational Medicine Research Center (KUTTAM), Koç University, Istanbul 34450, Türkiye
- Koç University Arçelik Research Center for Creative Industries (KUAR), Koç University, Istanbul 34450, Türkiye
- Boğaziçi Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul 34684, Türkiye
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30
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Dhatt-Gauthier K, Livitz D, Wu Y, Bishop KJM. Accelerating the Design of Self-Guided Microrobots in Time-Varying Magnetic Fields. JACS AU 2023; 3:611-627. [PMID: 37006772 PMCID: PMC10052236 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.2c00499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Mobile robots combine sensory information with mechanical actuation to move autonomously through structured environments and perform specific tasks. The miniaturization of such robots to the size of living cells is actively pursued for applications in biomedicine, materials science, and environmental sustainability. Existing microrobots based on field-driven particles rely on knowledge of the particle position and the target destination to control particle motion through fluid environments. Often, however, these external control strategies are challenged by limited information and global actuation where a common field directs multiple robots with unknown positions. In this Perspective, we discuss how time-varying magnetic fields can be used to encode the self-guided behaviors of magnetic particles conditioned on local environmental cues. Programming these behaviors is framed as a design problem: we seek to identify the design variables (e.g., particle shape, magnetization, elasticity, stimuli-response) that achieve the desired performance in a given environment. We discuss strategies for accelerating the design process using automated experiments, computational models, statistical inference, and machine learning approaches. Based on the current understanding of field-driven particle dynamics and existing capabilities for particle fabrication and actuation, we argue that self-guided microrobots with potentially transformative capabilities are close at hand.
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31
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Bianchi S, Muñoz-Martin I, Covi E, Bricalli A, Piccolboni G, Regev A, Molas G, Nodin JF, Andrieu F, Ielmini D. A self-adaptive hardware with resistive switching synapses for experience-based neurocomputing. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1565. [PMID: 36944647 PMCID: PMC10030830 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37097-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurobiological systems continually interact with the surrounding environment to refine their behaviour toward the best possible reward. Achieving such learning by experience is one of the main challenges of artificial intelligence, but currently it is hindered by the lack of hardware capable of plastic adaptation. Here, we propose a bio-inspired recurrent neural network, mastered by a digital system on chip with resistive-switching synaptic arrays of memory devices, which exploits homeostatic Hebbian learning for improved efficiency. All the results are discussed experimentally and theoretically, proposing a conceptual framework for benchmarking the main outcomes in terms of accuracy and resilience. To test the proposed architecture for reinforcement learning tasks, we study the autonomous exploration of continually evolving environments and verify the results for the Mars rover navigation. We also show that, compared to conventional deep learning techniques, our in-memory hardware has the potential to achieve a significant boost in speed and power-saving.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Bianchi
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano and IUNET, Milano, 20133, Italy
- Infineon Technologies, Villach, Austria
| | - I Muñoz-Martin
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano and IUNET, Milano, 20133, Italy
- Infineon Technologies, Villach, Austria
| | - E Covi
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano and IUNET, Milano, 20133, Italy
- NaMLab gGmbH, Dresden, Germany
| | | | | | - A Regev
- Weebit Nano, Hod Hasharon, Israel
| | - G Molas
- Weebit Nano, Hod Hasharon, Israel
| | - J F Nodin
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, Leti, F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - F Andrieu
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, Leti, F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - D Ielmini
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano and IUNET, Milano, 20133, Italy.
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Smart micro- and nanorobots for water purification. NATURE REVIEWS BIOENGINEERING 2023; 1:236-251. [PMID: 37064655 PMCID: PMC9901418 DOI: 10.1038/s44222-023-00025-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Less than 1% of Earth's freshwater reserves is accessible. Industrialization, population growth and climate change are further exacerbating clean water shortage. Current water-remediation treatments fail to remove most pollutants completely or release toxic by-products into the environment. The use of self-propelled programmable micro- and nanoscale synthetic robots is a promising alternative way to improve water monitoring and remediation by overcoming diffusion-limited reactions and promoting interactions with target pollutants, including nano- and microplastics, persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals, oils and pathogenic microorganisms. This Review introduces the evolution of passive micro- and nanomaterials through active micro- and nanomotors and into advanced intelligent micro- and nanorobots in terms of motion ability, multifunctionality, adaptive response, swarming and mutual communication. After describing removal and degradation strategies, we present the most relevant improvements in water treatment, highlighting the design aspects necessary to improve remediation efficiency for specific contaminants. Finally, open challenges and future directions are discussed for the real-world application of smart micro- and nanorobots.
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Ji F, Wu Y, Pumera M, Zhang L. Collective Behaviors of Active Matter Learning from Natural Taxes Across Scales. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2203959. [PMID: 35986637 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202203959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Taxis orientation is common in microorganisms, and it provides feasible strategies to operate active colloids as small-scale robots. Collective taxes involve numerous units that collectively perform taxis motion, whereby the collective cooperation between individuals enables the group to perform efficiently, adaptively, and robustly. Hence, analyzing and designing collectives is crucial for developing and advancing microswarm toward practical or clinical applications. In this review, natural taxis behaviors are categorized and synthetic microrobotic collectives are discussed as bio-inspired realizations, aiming at closing the gap between taxis strategies of living creatures and those of functional active microswarms. As collective behaviors emerge within a group, the global taxis to external stimuli guides the group to conduct overall tasks, whereas the local taxis between individuals induces synchronization and global patterns. By encoding the local orientations and programming the global stimuli, various paradigms can be introduced for coordinating and controlling such collective microrobots, from the viewpoints of fundamental science and practical applications. Therefore, by discussing the key points and difficulties associated with collective taxes of different paradigms, this review potentially offers insights into mimicking natural collective behaviors and constructing intelligent microrobotic systems for on-demand control and preassigned tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengtong Ji
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Yilin Wu
- Department of Physics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Martin Pumera
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, VSB - Technical University of Ostrava, 17. listopadu 2172/15, Ostrava, 70800, Czech Republic
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Korea
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, 999077, China
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Law J, Chen H, Wang Y, Yu J, Sun Y. Gravity-resisting colloidal collectives. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eade3161. [PMID: 36399567 PMCID: PMC9674281 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade3161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembly of dynamic colloidal structures along the vertical direction has been challenging because of gravity and the complexity in controlling agent-agent interactions. Here, we present a strategy that enables the self-growing of gravity-resisting colloidal collectives. By designing a unique dual-axis oscillating magnetic field, time-varying interparticle interactions are induced to assemble magnetic particles against gravity into vertical collectives, with the structures continuing to grow until reaching dynamic equilibrium. The collectives have swarm behavior and are capable of height reconfiguration and adaptive locomotion, such as moving along a tilted substrate and under nonzero fluidic flow condition, gap and obstacle crossing, and stair climbing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhui Law
- School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Hui Chen
- School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yibin Wang
- School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiangfan Yu
- School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yu Sun
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Robotics Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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35
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Xia N, Zhu G, Wang X, Dong Y, Zhang L. Multicomponent and multifunctional integrated miniature soft robots. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:7464-7485. [PMID: 36189642 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00891b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Miniature soft robots with elaborate structures and programmable physical properties could conduct micromanipulation with high precision as well as access confined and tortuous spaces, which promise benefits in medical tasks and environmental monitoring. To improve the functionalities and adaptability of miniature soft robots, a variety of integrated design and fabrication strategies have been proposed for the development of miniaturized soft robotic systems integrated with multicomponents and multifunctionalities. Combining the latest advancement in fabrication technologies, intelligent materials and active control methods enable these integrated robotic systems to adapt to increasingly complex application scenarios including precision medicine, intelligent electronics, and environmental and proprioceptive sensing. Herein, this review delivers an overview of various integration strategies applicable for miniature soft robotic systems, including semiconductor and microelectronic techniques, modular assembly based on self-healing and welding, modular assembly based on bonding agents, laser machining techniques, template assisted methods with modular material design, and 3D printing techniques. Emerging applications of the integrated miniature soft robots and perspectives for the future design of small-scale intelligent robots are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neng Xia
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Guangda Zhu
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Yue Dong
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Chow Yuk Ho Technology Center for Innovative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK T Stone Robotics Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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