Ultrasound-Controlled Swarmbots Under Physiological Flow Conditions
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Date
2022-09-13
Publication Type
Journal Article
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yes
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Abstract
Navigation of microrobots in living vasculatures is essential in realizing targeted drug delivery and advancing non-invasive surgeries. Acoustically-controlled "swarmbots" are developed based on the self-assembly of clinically-approved microbubbles (MBs). Ultrasound is noninvasive, penetrates deeply into the human body, and is well-developed in clinical settings. This propulsion strategy relies on two forces: the primary radiation force and the secondary Bjerknes force. Upon ultrasound activation, the MBs self-assemble into microswarms, which migrate toward and anchor at the containing vessel's wall. A second transducer, which produces an acoustic field parallel to the channel, propels the swarms along the wall. Noting that human arteries have a blood flow 5-19 cm s(-1), powerful features of cross- and upstream swarmbot navigation are demonstrated against physiologically-relevant flow rates that reach 16.7 cm s(-1). Additionally, controlled navigation of swarmbots is shown within mice blood and under pulsatile flow conditions of 100 beats per minute (bpm); an adult human heart at rest executes between 60 and 100 bpm. This capability represents a much-needed pathway for advancing preclinical research.
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Publication status
published
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Book title
Journal / series
Volume
9 (26)
Pages / Article No.
2200877
Publisher
Wiley-VCH
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Edition / version
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Date collected
Date created
Subject
micro and nanorobots; microbubble; self-assembly; ultrasound; vasculature
Organisational unit
09700 - Ahmed, Daniel (ehemalig) / Ahmed, Daniel (former)
09700 - Ahmed, Daniel (ehemalig) / Ahmed, Daniel (former)
Notes
Funding
853309 - Acousto-Magnetic Micro/Nanorobots for Biomedical Applications (EC)