Magnetic Cell-Mimetic Droplet Microrobots with Division and Exocytosis Capabilities
The first challenge in building a living robotic system inspired by life evolution is how to replicate the original form of life—the cell. However, current microrobots mimic cell motion control but fail to replicate the functional biological activities of cellular systems. Here, we propose a strateg...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Research |
| Online Access: | https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/research.0730 |
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| author | Shimin Yu Weiwei Zhang Yongzhi Feng Xiang Zhang Chuanhua Li Shengjun Shi Haocheng Wang Tianlong Li |
| author_facet | Shimin Yu Weiwei Zhang Yongzhi Feng Xiang Zhang Chuanhua Li Shengjun Shi Haocheng Wang Tianlong Li |
| author_sort | Shimin Yu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The first challenge in building a living robotic system inspired by life evolution is how to replicate the original form of life—the cell. However, current microrobots mimic cell motion control but fail to replicate the functional biological activities of cellular systems. Here, we propose a strategy that programs microparticle swarms encapsulated in droplets at an air/liquid interface to create cell-mimetic droplet microrobots with vitality by employing alternating magnetic fields. Through the design of algorithms and spontaneous interface waves, our collective system embodies reversible transitions between gas, chain, array, and disk-like collective modes, and emulates various complex activities of living cells in nature, including division and exocytosis. Based on these 2 capabilities learned from living cells, the cell-mimetic microrobots navigate the bile duct to the gallbladder under the guidance and control of magnetic fields, completing the drug release task. This cell-mimetic microrobots may provide a fundamental understanding of cellular life and pave the way for the construction of artificial living systems. Furthermore, they hold substantial potential for medical and environmental applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d4ee8e9b02194843a670fb0d153e2ba2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2639-5274 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-d4ee8e9b02194843a670fb0d153e2ba22025-08-20T03:07:35ZengAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)Research2639-52742025-01-01810.34133/research.0730Magnetic Cell-Mimetic Droplet Microrobots with Division and Exocytosis CapabilitiesShimin Yu0Weiwei Zhang1Yongzhi Feng2Xiang Zhang3Chuanhua Li4Shengjun Shi5Haocheng Wang6Tianlong Li7College of Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China.National Center for International Joint Research of Micro-Nano Molding Technology, School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China.State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China.State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China.State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China.The first challenge in building a living robotic system inspired by life evolution is how to replicate the original form of life—the cell. However, current microrobots mimic cell motion control but fail to replicate the functional biological activities of cellular systems. Here, we propose a strategy that programs microparticle swarms encapsulated in droplets at an air/liquid interface to create cell-mimetic droplet microrobots with vitality by employing alternating magnetic fields. Through the design of algorithms and spontaneous interface waves, our collective system embodies reversible transitions between gas, chain, array, and disk-like collective modes, and emulates various complex activities of living cells in nature, including division and exocytosis. Based on these 2 capabilities learned from living cells, the cell-mimetic microrobots navigate the bile duct to the gallbladder under the guidance and control of magnetic fields, completing the drug release task. This cell-mimetic microrobots may provide a fundamental understanding of cellular life and pave the way for the construction of artificial living systems. Furthermore, they hold substantial potential for medical and environmental applications.https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/research.0730 |
| spellingShingle | Shimin Yu Weiwei Zhang Yongzhi Feng Xiang Zhang Chuanhua Li Shengjun Shi Haocheng Wang Tianlong Li Magnetic Cell-Mimetic Droplet Microrobots with Division and Exocytosis Capabilities Research |
| title | Magnetic Cell-Mimetic Droplet Microrobots with Division and Exocytosis Capabilities |
| title_full | Magnetic Cell-Mimetic Droplet Microrobots with Division and Exocytosis Capabilities |
| title_fullStr | Magnetic Cell-Mimetic Droplet Microrobots with Division and Exocytosis Capabilities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Magnetic Cell-Mimetic Droplet Microrobots with Division and Exocytosis Capabilities |
| title_short | Magnetic Cell-Mimetic Droplet Microrobots with Division and Exocytosis Capabilities |
| title_sort | magnetic cell mimetic droplet microrobots with division and exocytosis capabilities |
| url | https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/research.0730 |
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