A 3D-printed electromagnetically actuated microgripper system for precision single-cell manipulation

Cell manipulation is an important technique in biomedical research, yet existing micromanipulation tools still face challenges in force-control precision, multiscale adaptability, and biocompatibility. To address these limitations, this paper presents an electromagnetically actuated single-cell microgripper system for controlled cell manipulation. The system integrates a 3D-printed gripper, an electromagnetic gripping actuator, a motorized stage, and a control system. The gripper opening can be adjusted to accommodate cells of different sizes over a wide range from 10 to 500 μm, while the gripping force can be regulated by tuning the voltage applied to the electromagnetic coil. In addition, the microgripper incorporates a liquid-retention structure, which allows cells to be reliably transferred out of the culture medium while maintaining a hydrated microenvironment. Experimental results demonstrate that the electromagnetically actuated microgripper system enables controlled alignment of polystyrene microspheres with varying diameters, controlled deformation of oocytes, and capture, transfer, and release of living stem cells while preserving cell viability. With its simple structure and straightforward operation, the system exhibits promising potential for applications in the field of single-cell biomedical research.