Publication detail

Magnetic Microrobot Swarms with Polymeric Hands Catching Bacteria and Microplastics in Water

USSIA, M. URSO, M. ORAL, Ç. PENG, X. PUMERA, M.

Original Title

Magnetic Microrobot Swarms with Polymeric Hands Catching Bacteria and Microplastics in Water

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

The forefront of micro- and nanorobot research involves the development of smart swimming micromachines emulating the complexity of natural systems, such as the swarming and collective behaviors typically observed in animals and microorganisms, for efficient task execution. This study introduces magnetically controlled microrobots that possess polymeric sequestrant "hands" decorating a magnetic core. Under the influence of external magnetic fields, the functionalized magnetic beads dynamically self-assemble from individual microparticles into well-defined rotating planes of diverse dimensions, allowing modulation of their propulsion speed, and exhibiting a collective motion. These mobile microrobotic swarms can actively capture free-swimming bacteria and dispersed microplastics "on-the-fly", thereby cleaning aquatic environments. Unlike conventional methods, these microrobots can be collected from the complex media and can release the captured contaminants in a second vessel in a controllable manner, that is, using ultrasound, offering a sustainable solution for repeated use in decontamination processes. Additionally, the residual water is subjected to UV irradiation to eliminate any remaining bacteria, providing a comprehensive cleaning solution. In summary, this study shows a swarming microrobot design for water decontamination processes.

Keywords

micromotors; collective motion; magneticallydriven; swarming behavior; self-assembly; microplastics; water purification

Authors

USSIA, M.; URSO, M.; ORAL, Ç.; PENG, X.; PUMERA, M.

Released

8. 5. 2024

Publisher

AMER CHEMICAL SOC

Location

WASHINGTON

ISBN

1936-086X

Periodical

ACS Nano (e-ISSN)

Year of study

18

Number

20

State

United States of America

Pages from

13171

Pages to

13183

Pages count

13

URL

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.4c02115

BibTex

@article{BUT197243,
  author="Martina {Ussia} and Mario {Urso} and Çaǧatay Mert {Oral} and Xia {Peng} and Martin {Pumera}",
  title="Magnetic Microrobot Swarms with Polymeric Hands Catching Bacteria and Microplastics in Water",
  journal="ACS Nano (e-ISSN)",
  year="2024",
  volume="18",
  number="20",
  pages="13171--13183",
  doi="10.1021/acsnano.4c02115",
  issn="1936-086X",
  url="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.4c02115"
}