Scientists have created a micro robot for drug delivery driven by bubbles controlled by ultrasound

2024-01-26

According to foreign media reports, although many scientists have been studying micro "robots" - robots that can transport drugs to specific locations on the body, there is still a challenge - not using bulky car batteries to power these robots. Now, a new method is to use ultrasound to act on tiny bubbles.

Under the leadership of Professor Mingming Wu, scientists at Cornell University began using laser lithography systems to 3D print triangular "micro robot swimmers" the size of animal cells. Each one is made of hydrophobic (waterproof) resin, with two holes etched on its back - the opening diameters of these two holes are different. Due to the hydrophobicity of the resin, a bubble is formed in each cavity when a swimmer is placed in a liquid environment.

When an external ultrasonic transducer is subsequently aimed at the swimmer, the sound waves cause bubble oscillations, generating eddy currents to propel the robot forward. However, by changing the resonance frequency of the wave, it is possible to selectively excite one of the bubbles alone or simultaneously excite two bubbles.

In this way, swimmers can be remotely controlled. Although previous research has produced micro robots propelled by a single bubble, they must be controlled using two ultrasonic transducers. By contrast, according to reports, swimmers at Cornell University were the first to only require one sensor, thanks to their dual bubble design.

Scientists are now working to manufacture robots using biocompatible and biodegradable materials, so that their work can be safely dissolved in the body after completion.

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