1
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Iványi GT, Nemes B, Gróf I, Fekete T, Kubacková J, Tomori Z, Bánó G, Vizsnyiczai G, Kelemen L. Optically Actuated Soft Microrobot Family for Single-Cell Manipulation. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2401115. [PMID: 38814436 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202401115] [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: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Precisely controlled manipulation of nonadherent single cells is often a pre-requisite for their detailed investigation. Optical trapping provides a versatile means for positioning cells with submicrometer precision or measuring forces with femto-Newton resolution. A variant of the technique, called indirect optical trapping, enables single-cell manipulation with no photodamage and superior spatial control and stability by relying on optically trapped microtools biochemically bound to the cell. High-resolution 3D lithography enables to prepare such cell manipulators with any predefined shape, greatly extending the number of achievable manipulation tasks. Here, it is presented for the first time a novel family of cell manipulators that are deformable by optical tweezers and rely on their elasticity to hold cells. This provides a more straightforward approach to indirect optical trapping by avoiding biochemical functionalization for cell attachment, and consequently by enabling the manipulated cells to be released at any time. Using the photoresist Ormocomp, the deformations achievable with optical forces in the tens of pN range and present three modes of single-cell manipulation as examples to showcase the possible applications such soft microrobotic tools can offer are characterized. The applications describe here include cell collection, 3D cell imaging, and spatially and temporally controlled cell-cell interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergely T Iványi
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged Institute of Biophysics, Temesvári krt. 62, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Multidisciplinary Medical Sciences, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6720, Hungary
| | - Botond Nemes
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged Institute of Biophysics, Temesvári krt. 62, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Ilona Gróf
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged Institute of Biophysics, Temesvári krt. 62, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Tamás Fekete
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged Institute of Biophysics, Temesvári krt. 62, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Jana Kubacková
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics SAS, Watsonova 47, Košice, 04001, Slovakia
| | - Zoltán Tomori
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics SAS, Watsonova 47, Košice, 04001, Slovakia
| | - Gregor Bánó
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Science, P. J. Šafárik University in Košice, Jesenná 5, Košice, 04154, Slovakia
| | - Gaszton Vizsnyiczai
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged Institute of Biophysics, Temesvári krt. 62, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6720, Hungary
| | - Lóránd Kelemen
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged Institute of Biophysics, Temesvári krt. 62, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
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2
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den Hoed FM, Carlotti M, Palagi S, Raffa P, Mattoli V. Evolution of the Microrobots: Stimuli-Responsive Materials and Additive Manufacturing Technologies Turn Small Structures into Microscale Robots. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:275. [PMID: 38399003 PMCID: PMC10893381 DOI: 10.3390/mi15020275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
The development of functional microsystems and microrobots that have characterized the last decade is the result of a synergistic and effective interaction between the progress of fabrication techniques and the increased availability of smart and responsive materials to be employed in the latter. Functional structures on the microscale have been relevant for a vast plethora of technologies that find application in different sectors including automotive, sensing devices, and consumer electronics, but are now also entering medical clinics. Working on or inside the human body requires increasing complexity and functionality on an ever-smaller scale, which is becoming possible as a result of emerging technology and smart materials over the past decades. In recent years, additive manufacturing has risen to the forefront of this evolution as the most prominent method to fabricate complex 3D structures. In this review, we discuss the rapid 3D manufacturing techniques that have emerged and how they have enabled a great leap in microrobotic applications. The arrival of smart materials with inherent functionalities has propelled microrobots to great complexity and complex applications. We focus on which materials are important for actuation and what the possibilities are for supplying the required energy. Furthermore, we provide an updated view of a new generation of microrobots in terms of both materials and fabrication technology. While two-photon lithography may be the state-of-the-art technology at the moment, in terms of resolution and design freedom, new methods such as two-step are on the horizon. In the more distant future, innovations like molecular motors could make microscale robots redundant and bring about nanofabrication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Marco den Hoed
- Center for Materials Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via R. Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy;
- Smart and Sustainable Polymeric Products, Engineering and Technology Institute Groningen (ENTEG), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands;
| | - Marco Carlotti
- Center for Materials Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via R. Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy;
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale, University of Pisa, Via Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Palagi
- BioRobotics Institute, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, P.zza Martiri della Libertà 33, 56127 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Patrizio Raffa
- Smart and Sustainable Polymeric Products, Engineering and Technology Institute Groningen (ENTEG), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands;
| | - Virgilio Mattoli
- Center for Materials Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via R. Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy;
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3
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Zhang J, Jing Q, Wade T, Xu Z, Ives L, Zhang D, Baumberg JJ, Kar-Narayan S. Controllable Multimodal Actuation in Fully Printed Ultrathin Micro-Patterned Electrochemical Actuators. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:6485-6494. [PMID: 38266382 PMCID: PMC10859886 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c19006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Submillimeter or micrometer scale electrically controlled soft actuators have immense potential in microrobotics, haptics, and biomedical applications. However, the fabrication of miniaturized and micropatterned open-air soft actuators has remained challenging. In this study, we demonstrate the microfabrication of trilayer electrochemical actuators (ECAs) through aerosol jet printing (AJP), a rapid prototyping method with a 10 μm lateral resolution. We make fully printed 1000 × 5000 × 12 μm3 ultrathin ECAs, each of which comprises a Nafion electrolyte layer sandwiched between two poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) electrode layers. The ECAs actuate due to the electric-field-driven migration of hydrated protons. Due to the thinness that gives rise to a low proton transport length and a low flexural rigidity, the printed ECAs can operate under low voltages (∼0.5 V) and have a relatively fast response (∼seconds). We print all the components of an actuator that consists of two individually controlled submillimeter segments and demonstrate its multimodal actuation. The convenience, versatility, rapidity, and low cost of our microfabrication strategy promise future developments in integrating arrays of intricately patterned individually controlled soft microactuators on compact stretchable electronic circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Zhang
- Department
of Materials Science & Metallurgy, University
of Cambridge, 27 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge CB3 0FS, U.K.
- NanoPhotonics
Centre, Cavendish Laboratory, University
of Cambridge, JJ Thomson
Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, U.K.
| | - Qingshen Jing
- Department
of Materials Science & Metallurgy, University
of Cambridge, 27 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge CB3 0FS, U.K.
- James
Watt School of Engineering, University of
Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8LT, U.K.
| | - Tom Wade
- Department
of Materials Science & Metallurgy, University
of Cambridge, 27 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge CB3 0FS, U.K.
| | - Zhencheng Xu
- Department
of Materials Science & Metallurgy, University
of Cambridge, 27 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge CB3 0FS, U.K.
| | - Liam Ives
- Department
of Materials Science & Metallurgy, University
of Cambridge, 27 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge CB3 0FS, U.K.
| | - Diandian Zhang
- Department
of Materials Science & Metallurgy, University
of Cambridge, 27 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge CB3 0FS, U.K.
| | - Jeremy J. Baumberg
- NanoPhotonics
Centre, Cavendish Laboratory, University
of Cambridge, JJ Thomson
Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, U.K.
| | - Sohini Kar-Narayan
- Department
of Materials Science & Metallurgy, University
of Cambridge, 27 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge CB3 0FS, U.K.
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Schulz AK, Schneider N, Zhang M, Singal K. A Year at the Forefront of Hydrostat Motion. Biol Open 2023; 12:bio059834. [PMID: 37566395 PMCID: PMC10434360 DOI: 10.1242/bio.059834] [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] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, in the field of interdisciplinary work in biology, there has been a significant push by the soft robotic community to understand the motion and maneuverability of hydrostats. This Review seeks to expand the muscular hydrostat hypothesis toward new structures, including plants, and introduce innovative techniques to the hydrostat community on new modeling, simulating, mimicking, and observing hydrostat motion methods. These methods range from ideas of kirigami, origami, and knitting for mimic creation to utilizing reinforcement learning for control of bio-inspired soft robotic systems. It is now being understood through modeling that different mechanisms can inhibit traditional hydrostat motion, such as skin, nostrils, or sheathed layered muscle walls. The impact of this Review will highlight these mechanisms, including asymmetries, and discuss the critical next steps toward understanding their motion and how species with hydrostat structures control such complex motions, highlighting work from January 2022 to December 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew K. Schulz
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Nikole Schneider
- Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
| | - Margaret Zhang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Krishma Singal
- School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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5
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Tauber FJ, Slesarenko V. Early career scientists converse on the future of soft robotics. Front Robot AI 2023; 10:1129827. [PMID: 36909362 PMCID: PMC9994530 DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2023.1129827] [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: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
During the recent decade, we have witnessed an extraordinary flourishing of soft robotics. Rekindled interest in soft robots is partially associated with the advances in manufacturing techniques that enable the fabrication of sophisticated multi-material robotic bodies with dimensions ranging across multiple length scales. In recent manuscripts, a reader might find peculiar-looking soft robots capable of grasping, walking, or swimming. However, the growth in publication numbers does not always reflect the real progress in the field since many manuscripts employ very similar ideas and just tweak soft body geometries. Therefore, we unreservedly agree with the sentiment that future research must move beyond "soft for soft's sake." Soft robotics is an undoubtedly fascinating field, but it requires a critical assessment of the limitations and challenges, enabling us to spotlight the areas and directions where soft robots will have the best leverage over their traditional counterparts. In this perspective paper, we discuss the current state of robotic research related to such important aspects as energy autonomy, electronic-free logic, and sustainability. The goal is to critically look at perspectives of soft robotics from two opposite points of view provided by early career researchers and highlight the most promising future direction, that is, in our opinion, the employment of soft robotic technologies for soft bio-inspired artificial organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Falk J. Tauber
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS, FIT—Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Plant Biomechanics Group (PBG) Freiburg, Botanic Garden of the University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Viacheslav Slesarenko
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS, FIT—Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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6
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Abstract
Microrobots have attracted the attention of scientists owing to their unique features to accomplish tasks in hard-to-reach sites in the human body. Microrobots can be precisely actuated and maneuvered individually or in a swarm for cargo delivery, sampling, surgery, and imaging applications. In addition, microrobots have found applications in the environmental sector (e.g., water treatment). Besides, recent advancements of three-dimensional (3D) printers have enabled the high-resolution fabrication of microrobots with a faster design-production turnaround time for users with limited micromanufacturing skills. Here, the latest end applications of 3D printed microrobots are reviewed (ranging from environmental to biomedical applications) along with a brief discussion over the feasible actuation methods (e.g., on- and off-board), and practical 3D printing technologies for microrobot fabrication. In addition, as a future perspective, we discussed the potential advantages of integration of microrobots with smart materials, and conceivable benefits of implementation of artificial intelligence (AI), as well as physical intelligence (PI). Moreover, in order to facilitate bench-to-bedside translation of microrobots, current challenges impeding clinical translation of microrobots are elaborated, including entry obstacles (e.g., immune system attacks) and cumbersome standard test procedures to ensure biocompatibility. Microbots have attracted attention due to an ability to reach places and perform tasks which are not possible with conventional techniques in a wide range of applications. Here, the authors review the recent work in the field on the fabrication, application and actuation of 3D printed microbots offering a view of the direction of future microbot research.
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7
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Wang J, Suo J, Chortos A. Design of Fully Controllable and Continuous Programmable Surface Based on Machine Learning. IEEE Robot Autom Lett 2022. [DOI: 10.1109/lra.2021.3129542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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8
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Chortos A. Extrusion
3D
printing of conjugated polymers. JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pol.20210609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Chortos
- Department of Mechanical Engineering Purdue University West Lafayette Indiana USA
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9
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Kanaan AF, Pinho AC, Piedade AP. Electroactive Polymers Obtained by Conventional and Non-Conventional Technologies. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:2713. [PMID: 34451256 PMCID: PMC8399042 DOI: 10.3390/polym13162713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Electroactive polymers (EAPs), materials that present size/shape alteration in response to an electrical stimulus, are currently being explored regarding advanced smart devices, namely robotics, valves, soft actuators, artificial muscles, and electromechanical sensors. They are generally prepared through conventional techniques (e.g., solvent casting and free-radical polymerization). However, non-conventional processes such as those included in additive manufacturing (AM) are emerging as a novel approach to tune and enhance the electromechanical properties of EAPs to expand the scope of areas for this class of electro-responsive material. This review aims to summarize the published work (from the last five years) in developing EAPs either by conventional or non-conventional polymer processing approaches. The technology behind each processing technique is discussed as well as the main mechanism behind the electromechanical response. The most common polymer-based materials used in the design of current EAPs are reviewed. Therefore, the main conclusions and future trends regarding EAPs obtained by conventional and non-conventional technologies are also given.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ana P. Piedade
- CEMMPRE, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.F.K.); (A.C.P.)
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10
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Kiefer R, Weis DG, Velmurugan BK, Tamm T, Urban G. Ion Mobility in Thick and Thin Poly-3,4 Ethylenedioxythiophene Films-From EQCM to Actuation. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13152448. [PMID: 34372051 PMCID: PMC8348298 DOI: 10.3390/polym13152448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Conductive polymer actuators and sensors rely on controlled ion transport coupled to a potential/charge change. In order to understand and control such devices, it is of paramount importance to understand the factors that determine ion flux at various conditions, including the synthesis potential. In this work, the ion transport in thinner poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) films during charge/discharge driven by cyclic voltammetry is studied by consideration of the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) and the results are compared to the actuation responses of thicker films that have been synthesized with the same conditions in the bending and linear expansion modes. The effects of polymerization potentials of 1.0 V, 1.2 V, and 1.5 V are studied to elucidate how polymerization potential contributes to actuation, as well the involvement of the EQCM. In this work, it is revealed that there is a shift from anion-dominated to mixed to cation-dominated activity with increased synthesis potential. Scanning electron microscopy shows a decrease in porosity for the PEDOT structure with increasing synthesis potential. EQCM analysis of processes taking place at various potentials allows the determination of appropriate potential windows for increased control over devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudolf Kiefer
- Conducting Polymers in Composites and Applications Research Group, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +84-886-905605515
| | - Daniel Georg Weis
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Albertstraße 21, D-79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany;
- FMF—Freiburger Materialforschungszentrum, University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 21, D-79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany;
| | - Bharath Kumar Velmurugan
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung 401, Taiwan;
| | - Tarmo Tamm
- Intelligent Materials and Systems Lab., Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia;
| | - Gerald Urban
- FMF—Freiburger Materialforschungszentrum, University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 21, D-79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany;
- IMTEK—Institute for Microsystem Technology, Laboratory for Sensors, Georges-Koehler-Alle 103, D-79110 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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11
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Wang Y, Ahmed A, Azam A, Bing D, Shan Z, Zhang Z, Tariq MK, Sultana J, Mushtaq RT, Mehboob A, Xiaohu C, Rehman M. Applications of additive manufacturing (AM) in sustainable energy generation and battle against COVID-19 pandemic: The knowledge evolution of 3D printing. JOURNAL OF MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS 2021; 60:709-733. [PMID: 35068653 PMCID: PMC8759146 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmsy.2021.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Sustainable and cleaner manufacturing systems have found broad applications in industrial processes, especially aerospace, automotive and power generation. Conventional manufacturing methods are highly unsustainable regarding carbon emissions, energy consumption, material wastage, costly shipment and complex supply management. Besides, during global COVID-19 pandemic, advanced fabrication and management strategies were extremely required to fulfill the shortfall of basic and medical emergency supplies. Three-dimensional printing (3DP) reduces global energy consumption and CO2 emissions related to industrial manufacturing. Various renewable energy harvesting mechanisms utilizing solar, wind, tidal and human potential have been fabricated through additive manufacturing. 3D printing aided the manufacturing companies in combating the deficiencies of medical healthcare devices for patients and professionals globally. In this regard, 3D printed medical face shields, respiratory masks, personal protective equipment, PLA-based recyclable air filtration masks, additively manufactured ideal tissue models and new information technology (IT) based rapid manufacturing are some significant contributions of 3DP. Furthermore, a bibliometric study of 3D printing research was conducted in CiteSpace. The most influential keywords and latest research frontiers were found and the 3DP knowledge was categorized into 10 diverse research themes. The potential challenges incurred by AM industry during the pandemic were categorized in terms of design, safety, manufacturing, certification and legal issues. Significantly, this study highlights the versatile role of 3DP in battle against COVID-19 pandemic and provides up-to-date research frontiers, leading the readers to focus on the current hurdles encountered by AM industry, henceforth conduct further investigations to enhance 3DP technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanen Wang
- Department of Industry Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, PR China
| | - Ammar Ahmed
- Department of Industry Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, PR China
| | - Ali Azam
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, PR China
| | - Du Bing
- Center of Stomatology, The Second People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, 528000, PR China
| | - Zhang Shan
- Department of Industry Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, PR China
| | - Zutao Zhang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, PR China
| | - Muhammad Kashif Tariq
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore, 54890, Pakistan
| | - Jakiya Sultana
- Department of Industry Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, PR China
| | - Ray Tahir Mushtaq
- Department of Industry Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, PR China
| | - Asad Mehboob
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, PR China
| | - Chen Xiaohu
- Department of Industry Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, PR China
| | - Mudassar Rehman
- Department of Industry Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, PR China
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12
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Kiefer R, Nguyen NT, Le QB, Anbarjafari G, Tamm T. Antagonist Concepts of Polypyrrole Actuators: Bending Hybrid Actuator and Mirrored Trilayer Linear Actuator. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13060861. [PMID: 33799659 PMCID: PMC7999340 DOI: 10.3390/polym13060861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Following the natural muscle antagonist actuation principle, different adaptations for "artificial muscles" are introduced in this work. Polypyrrole (PPy) films of different polymerization techniques (potentiostatic and galvanostatic) were analyzed and their established responses were combined in several ways, resulting in beneficial actuation modes. A consecutive "one-pot" electrosynthesis of two layers with the different deposition regimes resulted in an all-PPy bending hybrid actuator. While in most cases the mixed-ion activity of conductive polymers has been considered a problem or a drawback, here for the first time, the nearly equal expansions upon oxidation and reduction of carefully selected conditions further allowed to fabricate a "mirrored" trilayer laminate, which behaved as a linear actuator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudolf Kiefer
- Conducting Polymers in Composites and Applications Research Group, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam;
- Correspondence:
| | - Ngoc Tuan Nguyen
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam;
| | - Quoc Bao Le
- Conducting Polymers in Composites and Applications Research Group, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam;
| | | | - Tarmo Tamm
- Intelligent Materials and Systems Lab, Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia;
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Abstract
3D printing (also called "additive manufacturing" or "rapid prototyping") is able to translate computer-aided and designed virtual 3D models into 3D tangible constructs/objects through a layer-by-layer deposition approach. Since its introduction, 3D printing has aroused enormous interest among researchers and engineers to understand the fabrication process and composition-structure-property correlation of printed 3D objects and unleash its great potential for application in a variety of industrial sectors. Because of its unique technological advantages, 3D printing can definitely benefit the field of microrobotics and advance the design and development of functional microrobots in a customized manner. This review aims to present a generic overview of 3D printing for functional microrobots. The most applicable 3D printing techniques, with a focus on laser-based printing, are introduced for the 3D microfabrication of microrobots. 3D-printable materials for fabricating microrobots are reviewed in detail, including photopolymers, photo-crosslinkable hydrogels, and cell-laden hydrogels. The representative applications of 3D-printed microrobots with rational designs heretofore give evidence of how these printed microrobots are being exploited in the medical, environmental, and other relevant fields. A future outlook on the 3D printing of microrobots is also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhua Li
- Center for Advanced Functional Nanorobots, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, Prague 6, 16628, Czech Republic.
| | - Martin Pumera
- Center for Advanced Functional Nanorobots, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, Prague 6, 16628, Czech Republic. and Future Energy and Innovation Laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 656/123, Brno, CZ-61600, Czech Republic and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-613 00, Brno, Czech Republic and Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Korea
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14
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Terzopoulou A, Nicholas JD, Chen XZ, Nelson BJ, Pané S, Puigmartí-Luis J. Metal–Organic Frameworks in Motion. Chem Rev 2020; 120:11175-11193. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Terzopoulou
- Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zurich, Tannenstrasse 3, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - James D. Nicholas
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
- Departament de Ciència dels Materials i Química Física, Institut de Química Teòrica i Computacional, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xiang-Zhong Chen
- Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zurich, Tannenstrasse 3, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bradley J. Nelson
- Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zurich, Tannenstrasse 3, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Salvador Pané
- Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zurich, Tannenstrasse 3, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Josep Puigmartí-Luis
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
- Departament de Ciència dels Materials i Química Física, Institut de Química Teòrica i Computacional, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
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