2D to 3D Manipulation and Assembly of Microstructures Using Optothermally Generated Surface Bubble Microrobots.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Microfluidics
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Hydrogel microstructures are crucial for assembling cell-laden tissues with broad biomedical applications.
• Precise 3D control over individual microstructures for tissue assembly remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel optothermal bubble robot system for 3D manipulation and assembly of hydrogel microstructures.
• To demonstrate the capability of controlling microbubble generation, growth, and motion for versatile fabrication.

Main Methods:

• Optothermally generated microbubble robots controlled by laser power modulation.
• 3D manipulation of hydrogel microstructures, including adjustment of posture and design of convex/concave shapes.
• Assembly of annular micromodules into 3D constructs like tubular and concentric structures.

Main Results:

• Bubble robots successfully performed 3D manipulations and assembled diverse hydrogel microstructures.
• Arbitrary adjustment of 3D properties and creation of structures with varying heights were achieved.
• Fabrication of complex 3D constructs, including tubular and concentric designs, was demonstrated.

Conclusions:

• The proposed bubble robot technique offers a simple, rapid, and versatile solution for 3D manipulation and assembly of hydrogel microstructures.
• This method holds significant potential for fabricating advanced tissue constructs for biological and medical applications.