Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Correction to "Deep Learning-Assisted Multiplexed Electrochemical Fingerprinting for Chinese Teas Identification".

Analytical chemistry·2026

Same author

Determinants of olfactory cleft targeting in intranasal aerosol delivery: a combined computational and experimental study.

European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·2026

Same author

Magnetic-driven multifunctional optoelectronic catheter for in vivo chemical mapping and precisely guided-tumor therapy.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Vertical graphene-coated core-shell microneedle as miniatured sensor for in vivo glucose monitoring.

Microsystems & nanoengineering·2026

Same author

A magnetically actuated robotic capsule endoscope for in-situ visualization and microneedle-mediated targeted drug delivery in gastrointestinal tract.

Microsystems & nanoengineering·2026

Same author

Morning Glory-Inspired 3D LIG/PDA Paper Evaporators for Efficient Solar Steam Generation.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 7, 2025

An Additive Manufacturing Technique for the Facile and Rapid Fabrication of Hydrogel-based Micromachines with Magnetically Responsive Components

An Additive Manufacturing Technique for the Facile and Rapid Fabrication of Hydrogel-based Micromachines with Magnetically Responsive Components

Published on: July 18, 2018

Solid-Liquid State Transformable Magnetorheological Millirobot.

Zhipeng Chen¹, Weibin Lu¹, Yuanyuan Li¹

¹Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, P. R. China.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

|June 21, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces a novel magneto-active millirobot capable of transforming between liquid and solid states using magnetic fields. This transformable robot enables versatile applications in biomedical settings, including drug delivery and thrombus clearance.

Keywords:

magnetic actuation magnetic fields magnetorheological fluid millirobot solid−liquid state transformation

More Related Videos

Aqueous Droplets Used as Enzymatic Microreactors and Their Electromagnetic Actuation

Aqueous Droplets Used as Enzymatic Microreactors and Their Electromagnetic Actuation

Published on: August 28, 2017

Quantifying Mixing using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Quantifying Mixing using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Published on: January 25, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 7, 2025

An Additive Manufacturing Technique for the Facile and Rapid Fabrication of Hydrogel-based Micromachines with Magnetically Responsive Components

An Additive Manufacturing Technique for the Facile and Rapid Fabrication of Hydrogel-based Micromachines with Magnetically Responsive Components

Published on: July 18, 2018

Aqueous Droplets Used as Enzymatic Microreactors and Their Electromagnetic Actuation

Aqueous Droplets Used as Enzymatic Microreactors and Their Electromagnetic Actuation

Published on: August 28, 2017

Quantifying Mixing using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Quantifying Mixing using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Published on: January 25, 2012

Area of Science:

Robotics
Materials Science
Biomedical Engineering

Background:

Soft millirobots offer advantages in biomedical applications but face limitations in deformability (solid) or stiffness (liquid).
Existing magneto-robots struggle with both shape adaptability and structural integrity for complex tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a magneto-active millirobot that can transition between solid and liquid states.
To enable versatile, remotely controlled manipulation and locomotion in biomedical environments.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of a millirobot using magnetorheological fluid (MRF) capable of solid-liquid state transformation.
Actuation using weak and strong magnetic fields to control fluidity, shape, and locomotion.
Demonstration of tasks in a phantom vascular model.

Main Results:

The MRF-Robot rapidly transforms between Newtonian fluid (weak field) and Bingham plastic (strong field) states.
Liquid state allows large deformation, splitting, merging, and gradient pulling.
Solid state enables controlled locomotion, shape reconfiguration, and object manipulation (pull, push, rotate).
Successful demonstration of drug delivery, thrombus clearance, and fluid-flow blockage in a vascular phantom.

Conclusions:

The magneto-active solid-liquid transformable millirobot (MRF-Robot) overcomes limitations of purely solid or liquid robots.
This technology offers a versatile platform for remote, noninvasive manipulation in complex environments.
Potential applications include targeted drug delivery, minimally invasive surgery, and fluid control in microfluidics.