Enhanced directionality of bio-hybrid mobile microrobots using non-spherical body geometries

Mobile microrobots are envisioned to be employed for several applications including drug delivery, diagnostic imaging and environmental monitoring. In the bio-hybrid microrobot that is presented here, microparticles are used as the body of the microrobot and bacterial cells are utilized to realize on-board actuation. In this work, the importance of body shape on the dynamics of bacteria-propelled swimming microrobots (BacteriaBots) is investigated. We have shown that, with the use of non-spherical microparticles, average directionality of the BacteriaBots is enhanced compared with the spherical BacteriaBots.