title: Selective trapping and manipulation of microscale objects using mobile microvortices.
abstract: Controlled manipulation of individual micro- and nanoscale objects requires the use of trapping forces that can be focused and translated with high spatial and time resolution. We report a new strategy that uses the flow of mobile microvortices to trap and manipulate single objects in fluid with essentially no restrictions on their material properties. Fluidic trapping forces are generated toward the center of microvortices formed by magnetic microactuators, that is, rotating nanowire or self-assembled microbeads, actuated by a weak rotating magnetic field (|B|< 5 mT). We demonstrate precise manipulation of single microspheres and microorganisms near a solid surface in water.
authors: Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zurich, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Tristan
authors: T
authors: Petit
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Kathrin E
authors: KE
authors: Peyer
authors: Bradley E
authors: BE
authors: Kratochvil
authors: Bradley J
authors: BJ
authors: Nelson
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D055617:Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008846:Micromanipulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009038:Motion; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000528:radiation effects*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*