3D Printed Template-Assisted Casting of Biocompatible Polyvinyl Alcohol-Based Soft Microswimmers with Tunable Stability


Date

2023-09-26

Publication Type

Journal Article

ETH Bibliography

yes

Citations

Altmetric

Data

Abstract

The past decade has seen an upsurge in the development of small-scale magnetic robots for various biomedical applications. However, many of the reported designs comprise components with biocompatibility concerns. Strategies for fabricating biocompatible and degradable microrobots are required. In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based magnetic hydrogel microrobots with different morphologies and tunable stability are developed by combining a 3D printed template-assisted casting with a salting-out process. 3D sacrificial micromolds are prepared via direct laser writing to shape PVA-magnetic nanoparticle composite hydrogel microrobots with high architectural complexity. By adjusting the PVA composition and salting-out parameters, the hydrogel dissolubility can be customized. Due to their high mobility, tunable stability, and high biocompatibility, these PVA-based magnetic microrobots are suitable platforms for targeted drug and cell delivery.

Publication status

published

Editor

Book title

Volume

33 (39)

Pages / Article No.

2212952

Publisher

Wiley-VCH

Event

Edition / version

Methods

Software

Geographic location

Date collected

Date created

Subject

3D printing; biocompatibility; hydrogels; microrobots; salting out

Organisational unit

03627 - Nelson, Bradley J. / Nelson, Bradley J. check_circle
08705 - Gruppe Pané Vidal check_circle
02205 - FIRST-Lab / FIRST Center for Micro- and Nanoscience check_circle

Notes

Funding

192012 - Mechano-chromic, Voltage-sensitive Electrostimulators: Innovative Piezoelectric Biomaterials for Electro-stimulated Cellular growth (SNF)
190451 - 3D Magnetic Nanoparticle Assemblies for Tumor-Targeted Nanomedicine: a Microrobotic Approach (SNF)

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