Opto-fluidically multiplexed assembly and micro-robotics
Abstract Techniques for high-definition micromanipulations, such as optical tweezers, hold substantial interest across a wide range of disciplines. However, their applicability remains constrained by material properties and laser exposure. And while microfluidic manipulations have been suggested as...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Publishing Group
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Light: Science & Applications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-024-01406-4 |
| _version_ | 1797273159632683008 |
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| author | Elena Erben Weida Liao Antonio Minopoli Nicola Maghelli Eric Lauga Moritz Kreysing |
| author_facet | Elena Erben Weida Liao Antonio Minopoli Nicola Maghelli Eric Lauga Moritz Kreysing |
| author_sort | Elena Erben |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Techniques for high-definition micromanipulations, such as optical tweezers, hold substantial interest across a wide range of disciplines. However, their applicability remains constrained by material properties and laser exposure. And while microfluidic manipulations have been suggested as an alternative, their inherent capabilities are limited and further hindered by practical challenges of implementation and control. Here we show that the iterative application of laser-induced, localized flow fields can be used for the relative positioning of multiple micro-particles, irrespectively of their material properties. Compared to the standing theoretical proposal, our method keeps particles mobile, and we show that their precision manipulation is non-linearly accelerated via the multiplexing of temperature stimuli below the heat diffusion limit. The resulting flow fields are topologically rich and mathematically predictable. They represent unprecedented microfluidic control capabilities that are illustrated by the actuation of humanoid micro-robots with up to 30 degrees of freedom, whose motions are sufficiently well-defined to reliably communicate personal characteristics such as gender, happiness and nervousness. Our results constitute high-definition micro-fluidic manipulations with transformative potential for assembly, micro-manufacturing, the life sciences, robotics and opto-hydraulically actuated micro-factories. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:39:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4520ef2cc7974ce98be49650ed95edf3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2047-7538 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:39:35Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Light: Science & Applications |
| spelling | doaj.art-4520ef2cc7974ce98be49650ed95edf32024-03-05T20:24:36ZengNature Publishing GroupLight: Science & Applications2047-75382024-02-0113111110.1038/s41377-024-01406-4Opto-fluidically multiplexed assembly and micro-roboticsElena Erben0Weida Liao1Antonio Minopoli2Nicola Maghelli3Eric Lauga4Moritz Kreysing5Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and GeneticsDepartment of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of CambridgeMax Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and GeneticsMax Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and GeneticsDepartment of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of CambridgeMax Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and GeneticsAbstract Techniques for high-definition micromanipulations, such as optical tweezers, hold substantial interest across a wide range of disciplines. However, their applicability remains constrained by material properties and laser exposure. And while microfluidic manipulations have been suggested as an alternative, their inherent capabilities are limited and further hindered by practical challenges of implementation and control. Here we show that the iterative application of laser-induced, localized flow fields can be used for the relative positioning of multiple micro-particles, irrespectively of their material properties. Compared to the standing theoretical proposal, our method keeps particles mobile, and we show that their precision manipulation is non-linearly accelerated via the multiplexing of temperature stimuli below the heat diffusion limit. The resulting flow fields are topologically rich and mathematically predictable. They represent unprecedented microfluidic control capabilities that are illustrated by the actuation of humanoid micro-robots with up to 30 degrees of freedom, whose motions are sufficiently well-defined to reliably communicate personal characteristics such as gender, happiness and nervousness. Our results constitute high-definition micro-fluidic manipulations with transformative potential for assembly, micro-manufacturing, the life sciences, robotics and opto-hydraulically actuated micro-factories.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-024-01406-4 |
| spellingShingle | Elena Erben Weida Liao Antonio Minopoli Nicola Maghelli Eric Lauga Moritz Kreysing Opto-fluidically multiplexed assembly and micro-robotics Light: Science & Applications |
| title | Opto-fluidically multiplexed assembly and micro-robotics |
| title_full | Opto-fluidically multiplexed assembly and micro-robotics |
| title_fullStr | Opto-fluidically multiplexed assembly and micro-robotics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Opto-fluidically multiplexed assembly and micro-robotics |
| title_short | Opto-fluidically multiplexed assembly and micro-robotics |
| title_sort | opto fluidically multiplexed assembly and micro robotics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-024-01406-4 |
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