3D-printed microrobots for biomedical applications

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Robotics

Background:

• Microrobots offer potential for minimally invasive biomedical applications, including drug delivery, microsurgery, and diagnostics.
• Traditional micromanufacturing methods face limitations in precision, operator skill requirements, and production time.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review 3D printing technologies for microrobot manufacturing.
• To discuss microrobot structures, functions, and applications in biomedicine.
• To summarize materials used in 3D printed microrobots and explore future prospects.

Main Methods:

• Review of current 3D printing techniques applicable to microrobot fabrication.
• Analysis of microrobot designs, functionalities, and biomedical use cases.
• Compilation and categorization of materials (body, propulsion, intelligent) for 3D microrobot construction.

Main Results:

• 3D printing enables high-precision microrobot fabrication, overcoming traditional manufacturing limitations.
• Diverse microrobot structures and functionalities can be achieved through 3D printing for various biomedical tasks.
• A range of materials are suitable for constructing functional 3D printed microrobots for targeted applications.

Conclusions:

• 3D printing significantly accelerates the design-to-production cycle for microrobots.
• Advancements in materials and manufacturing processes are crucial for realizing the full potential of 3D printed microrobots in biomedicine.
• Future research should focus on overcoming challenges in materials, manufacturing, and enhancing microrobot capabilities for clinical translation.