Abstract
Bubble-powered acoustic microsystems span a plethora of applications that range from lab-on-chip diagnostic platforms to targeted interventions as microrobots. Numerous studies strategize this bubble-powered mechanism to generate autonomous self-propulsion of microrobots in response to high frequency sound waves. Herein, we present two micro-propeller designs which contain an axis-symmetric distribution of entrapped bubbles that vibrate to induce fast rotational motion. Our micro-propellers are synthesized using 3D Direct Laser Writing and chemically-functionalized to selectively trap air bubbles at their micro-cavities which function as propulsion units. These rotational acoustic micro-propellers offer a dual advantage of being used as mobile microfluidic mixers, and as autonomous microrobots for targeted manipulation. With regards to targeted manipulation, we demonstrate magneto-acoustic actuation of our first propeller design that can be steered to a desired location to perform rotational motion. Furthermore, our second propeller design comprises of a helical arrangement of bubble-filled cavities which makes it suitable for spatial micro-mixing. Our acoustic propellers can reach speeds of up to 400 RPM (rotations per minute) without requiring any direct contact with a vibrating substrate in contrast to the state-of-the-art rotary acoustic microsystems.
Highlights
A myriad of biomedical technologies have evolved from contactless micromanipulation methods powered by external sources such as magnetism [1], optics [2], acoustics [3] and chemical reactions [4]
Magnetic and acoustic means of remote actuation rose to prominence due to their complimentary nature to existing medical im aging technologies like magnetic resonance (MR) [7] and ultrasound (US) systems [8]
Our propellers address the present challenges of cost-effectiveness and resuability of conventional micromixers as they provide comparable rotational speeds while being untethered from any vibrating substrate
Summary
A myriad of biomedical technologies have evolved from contactless micromanipulation methods powered by external sources such as magnetism [1], optics [2], acoustics [3] and chemical reactions [4] These methods encompass both microrobotic applications such as tar geted therapy [5], and microfluidics diagnostic platforms [6]. Despite the popularity of magnetically-actuated microsystems, it is challenging to fabricate such systems with suffi cient magnetic content at micro-nano scale which limits the propulsive forces offered by their sub-components [9] Some of these magnetic components either require bulky permanent magnets or elec tromagnets for actuation, or move with low speeds owing to bandwidth-limited electromagnetic systems i.e.,
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