Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
14:42
Remote Magnetic Actuation of Micrometric Probes for in situ 3D Mapping of Bacterial Biofilm Physical Properties
Published on: May 2, 2014
Submillimeter‑Scale Untethered Magnetic Actuators Enabling on‑Demand Manipulation and In Situ Viscosity Sensing
Xiaoyu Zhao1, Zhixian Chen1, Ying Liu1
1Bio-manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|August 5, 2026
Summary
New untethered magnetic actuators, fabricated using 3D printing and magnetic pixels, enable precise movement and viscosity sensing in bodily fluids. These micro-actuators show promise for advanced minimally invasive surgery and targeted drug delivery.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Robotics
Background:
- Untethered magnetic actuators are crucial for minimally invasive surgery due to their size and controllability.
- Current designs have limited versatility and lack systematic studies on locomotion in varying fluid viscosities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel submillimeter-scale untethered magnetic actuators with enhanced versatility.
- To investigate their locomotion and viscosity-sensing capabilities in physiologically relevant fluids.
Main Methods:
- An interference-fit assembly strategy combining stereolithographic 3D printing with magnetic pixels.
- Theoretical and experimental analysis of actuator motion and velocity-frequency relationships in fluids of varying viscosity.
Main Results:
- Locomotion velocity scales linearly with driving frequency above a critical magnetic flux density.
- Velocity-frequency slope shows hyperbolic dependence on viscosity, enabling concurrent motion and viscosity sensing.
- Demonstrated multifunctional capabilities including enhanced diffusion, directional transport, quantitative viscosity measurement, mechanical fragmentation, and magnetic gripping.
Conclusions:
- The developed strategy enables versatile and scalable fabrication of multifunctional magnetic actuators.
- These actuators hold significant potential for biomedical applications, including advanced surgical procedures and targeted delivery systems.
