Hydrogel microrobots actuated by optically generated vapour bubbles.
A novel hydrogel microrobot made of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) is reported. This disk-shaped microrobot is optothermally actuated by laser-induced bubbles. A pulsed laser is used to smoothly actuate an 80-μm-diameter bubble microrobot at up to 320 μm s(-1). A single microrobot or a pair of microrobots working in cooperation were used to assemble 20-μm-diameter polystyrene beads into different patterns. The microrobots were also used to assemble patterns made of single yeast cells and cell-laden agarose microgels. The patterned yeast cells and cell-laden microgels were cultured, and the cells successfully multiplied.
Dept. of Electrical Engineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Holmes Hall 483, 2540 Dole Street, Honolulu, USA.
Wenqi
W
Hu
Kelly S
KS
Ishii
Qihui
Q
Fan
Aaron T
AT
Ohta
D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry*; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D007834:Lasers; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000166:cytology
D005740:Gases; D005782:Gels; D011137:Polystyrenes; C437167:poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols