A team of researchers from the Institute of Nanophotonics at Jinan University in China have created a novel soft microalga robot (saBOT) according to a recent study that was published in PhotoniX.
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Micro/nanorobots offer hugepotential for performing tasks within intricate microenvironments, thanks to their compact size, flexibility, controllability, and adaptability to various conditions. However, conventional rigid micro/nanorobots face significant challenges in handling biomedical tasks in complex and narrow microenvironments due to their limited deformability and insufficient flexibility.
To overcome these limitations, researchers led by Professor Hongbao Xin from the Institute of Nanophotonics at Jinan University, China, have introduced a novel solution: a soft microalga robot (saBOT), as detailed in a recent paper published in PhotoniX.
The team utilized the naturally deformable and mobile microalga Euglena gracilis as the foundational structure for the saBOT. Using a photonic nanojet (PNJ) generated by a TiO2 microsphere lens in combination with a tapered optical fiber probe (TFP-TiO2), they were able to enhance the light intensity received by the photoreceptors of Euglena gracilis. This intensified light signal activated the light-sensitive channel (ChR2) in the receptors, enabling controlled deformation and precise navigation of the saBOT.
The TFP-TiO2 setup allowed flexible manipulation, enabling targeted deformation of specific parts of the microalga—such as its photoreceptors, body, or tail. This manipulation set the stage for tasks like selective drug release.
Leveraging the phototactic properties of Euglena gracilis and adjusting optical power through the PNJ, the saBOT achieved accurate navigation through intricate and narrow microchannels. In demonstrations, the saBOT also successfully traversed cell clusters to deliver drugs precisely to target cells and performed biomedical tasks such as targeted drug delivery and selective cell destruction within cell clusters.
These advancements highlight the saBOT's potential to expand the capabilities of microrobots, offering innovative solutions for biomedical applications in environments that are otherwise inaccessible to conventional tools or rigid microrobots.
Journal Reference:
Xiong, J., et. al. (2024) Photonic nanojet-regulated soft microalga-robot with controllable deformation and navigation capability. PhotoniX. doi.org/10.1186/s43074-024-00158-z