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Navigation of Ultrasound-controlled Swarmbots under Physiological Flow Conditions
Summary
Researchers developed acoustically controlled 'swarmbots' based on self-assembling clinically approved microbubbles, propelled by ultrasound radiation and Bjerknes forces, capable of navigating under physiological flow conditions. The system demonstrated potential for targeted drug delivery and non-invasive surgery in living vasculatures.
Abstract Navigation of microrobots in living vasculatures is essential in realizing targeted drug delivery and advancing non-invasive surgeries. We developed acoustically-controlled “swarmbots” based on the self-assembly of clinically-approved microbubbles. Ultrasound is noninvasive, penetrates deeply into the human body, and is well-developed in clinical settings. Our propulsion strategy relies in two forces: the primary radiation force and secondary Bjerknes force. Upon ultrasound activation, the microbubbles self-assemble into microswarms, which migrate towards 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. We demonstrated cross- and upstream navigation of the swarmbots at 3.27 mm/s and 0.53 mm/s, respectively, against physiologically-relevant flow rates of 4.2 – 16.7 cm/s. Additionally, we showed swarm controlled manipulation within mice blood and under pulsatile flow conditions of 100 beats per minute. This capability represents a much-needed pathway for advancing preclinical research. Teaser Navigation of ultrasound-guided microrobots inside artificial blood vessels overcoming physiological conditions, including high flow rates, pulsatile flow regimes, and high cell concentrations of blood.
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