Controlled propulsion and cargo transport of rotating nickel nanowires near a patterned solid surface.
We show that rotating Ni nanowires are capable of propulsion and transport of colloidal cargo near a complex surface. When dissimilar boundary conditions exist at the two ends of a nanowire, such as when a nanowire is near a wall, tumbling motion can be generated that leads to propulsion of the nanowire. The motion of the nanowire can be precisely controlled using a uniform rotating magnetic field. We investigate the propulsion mechanism and the trajectory of the nanowire during the tumbling motion and demonstrate cargo transport of a polystyrene microbead by the nanowire over a flat surface or across an open microchannel. The results imply that functionalized, ferromagnetic one-dimensional, tumbling nanostructures can be used for cell manipulation and targeted drug delivery in a low Reynolds number aqueous environment.
Zhang
Li
L
Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zurich, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland. lizhang@ethz.ch
Petit
Tristan
T
Lu
Yang
Y
Kratochvil
Bradley E
BE
Peyer
Kathrin E
KE
Pei
Ryan
R
Lou
Jun
J
Nelson
Bradley J
BJ
D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008280:Magnetics; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry*; D009532:Nickel / Q000737:chemistry; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry; D012984:Software; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D003102:Colloids; D014867:Water; D009532:Nickel; D012825:Silicon