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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Propulsion Mechanisms in Magnetic Microrobotics: From Single Microrobots to Swarms
ClearA Survey of Recent Developments in Magnetic Microrobots for Micro-/Nano-Manipulation
This survey reviews recent advances in tiny magnetically controlled robots designed for manipulating objects at the micro and nano scale, particularly in biomedical applications. Researchers found that these microrobots show promise for targeted drug delivery, cell manipulation, and minimally invasive surgery. While not directly about microplastics, the technology could eventually be applied to detecting or removing micro-scale pollutants from biological systems.
Recent Advances in Microrobots Powered by Multi-Physics Field for Biomedical and Environmental Applications
Not relevant to microplastics — this review surveys multi-physics-field-driven microrobots for biomedical and environmental applications such as targeted drug delivery and pollutant degradation, with microplastic removal mentioned only in passing as one of many potential environmental uses.
Self-Propelled Janus Microdimer Swimmers under a Rotating Magnetic Field
Researchers designed self-propelling microscopic swimmers powered by rotating magnetic fields, with potential uses in medicine and environmental monitoring. While not directly about microplastics, this micro-robotics technology could eventually be applied to detecting or removing contaminants at the microscale.
Magnetic Microrobot Swarms with Polymeric Hands Catching Bacteria and Microplastics in Water
Scientists developed tiny magnetic robots with polymer coatings that can swarm together and capture both bacteria and microplastics from water. The robots self-assemble into rotating formations when exposed to magnetic fields, effectively sweeping up contaminants as they move. This technology offers a promising new approach for cleaning microplastics from water supplies, which could help reduce human exposure to these pollutants.
Magnetically Driven Living Microrobot Swarms for Aquatic Micro- and Nanoplastic Cleanup
Scientists developed tiny magnetically controlled bacterial microrobots that can swarm together to capture and remove micro- and nanoplastics from water. These living robots use natural swimming motion combined with magnetic guidance to collect plastic particles from various commercial products in aquatic environments. This innovative technology could lead to new ways of cleaning up microplastic pollution before it enters drinking water and the food chain.
Magnetically DrivenLiving Microrobot Swarms for AquaticMicro- and Nanoplastic Cleanup
Researchers engineered magnetotactic bacteria-based microrobots capable of three-dimensional swarming motions guided by magnetic fields to capture micro- and nanoplastics from water. The living microrobots successfully captured plastics from commercial products including polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and rubber microplastics, offering a bio-inspired cleanup strategy.
Sustainable Magnetic Nanorobots for Microplastics Remediation
This review highlights how magnetically controlled nanorobots — functionalized with hydrophobic coatings, biochar, and carbon-based materials — can remove microplastics from water with efficiencies exceeding 90% in minutes. Bioinspired designs mimicking biological swarm behavior offer reusable, eco-friendly alternatives to conventional remediation strategies.
Remediation of micro- and nanoplastics by robotic technology: Performance, critical factors and marketing barriers
This review examines how micro- and nano-robotic technologies can be used to target and remove microplastic and nanoplastic particles from water. Researchers evaluated the performance of various robotic systems powered by light, magnetic fields, or chemical reactions, and found they show promise for precise pollutant removal at small scales. The study identifies cost-effectiveness and scaling up from laboratory to real-world applications as the main barriers to commercialization.
Reconfigurable Magnetic Liquid Metal Microrobots: A Regenerable Solution for the Capture and Removal of Micro/Nanoplastics
Scientists developed magnetically controlled liquid metal microrobots that can capture and remove micro- and nanoplastics from water. The tiny robots can change shape, be steered with magnets, and be regenerated for reuse, offering a potential new technology for cleaning plastic pollution from water sources before it reaches people.
Biohybrid Magnetically Driven Microrobots for Sustainable Removal of Micro/Nanoplastics from the Aquatic Environment
Researchers developed biohybrid microrobots by coating biological cells with magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, enabling them to capture and remove micro- and nanoplastics from water using magnetic steering. The microrobots effectively captured plastic particles through electrostatic interactions and could be collected with a magnet after use. The study presents an innovative and sustainable approach to cleaning up plastic pollution in aquatic environments.
Collective Behaviors of Isotropic Micromotors: From Assembly to Reconstruction and Motion Control under External Fields
This review covers collective behaviors of self-propelled isotropic micromotors that can be guided by external fields such as light or magnetic forces. These micromotor systems have potential applications for capturing and removing microplastic particles from contaminated water.
Magnetically steerable iron oxides-manganese dioxide core–shell micromotors for organic and microplastic removals
Magnetically steerable iron oxide-manganese dioxide core-shell micromotors were developed for active removal of contaminants from water. The micromotors could be guided using an external magnetic field to collect and remove pollutants, including microplastics, in a targeted and recoverable manner.
Micro/nanorobots for efficient removal and degradation of micro/nanoplastics
This paper reviews how tiny self-propelled robots at the micro and nanoscale could be used to capture and remove microplastics from water. These robots can be designed to target specific types of plastic particles and move through water on their own, offering advantages over traditional filtration methods. While still in early development, this technology could eventually provide a practical way to reduce microplastic contamination in drinking water and aquatic environments.
Low-Energy Photoresponsive Magnetic-Assisted Cleaning Microrobots for Removal of Microplastics in Water Environments
Researchers developed tiny light-powered magnetic microrobots that can actively seek out and collect microplastics from water, achieving 98% removal efficiency in under two minutes. The microrobots can be guided using magnetic fields and recovered for reuse, making the approach both effective and eco-friendly. This technology could eventually help clean microplastics from water sources before they reach people, though it is still at the laboratory stage.
Design and Control of the Micromotor Swarm Toward Smart Applications
This review covers recent advances in the design and control of micro- and nanomotor swarms, examining how different energy sources and cooperative behaviors enable collective motion for smart applications. Researchers discuss how micromotors mimicking natural microorganism swarms could be applied to environmental remediation including microplastic removal.
Advances in magnetic materials for microplastic separation and degradation
This review examines how magnetic materials can be used to capture and break down microplastics in water. Different types of magnetic particles, including iron nanoparticles and tiny magnetic robots, can attract and remove microplastics with high efficiency. These technologies could be important for cleaning up microplastic-contaminated water supplies and reducing human exposure through drinking water.
Micro/nanorobots for remediation of water resources and aquatic life
Not relevant to microplastics — this review covers micro/nanorobot technologies for water pollution control, focusing on propulsion methods and decontamination mechanisms for biological and chemical pollutants broadly, with only passing mention of plastics.
Smart micro- and nanorobots for water purification
This review explores the use of tiny self-propelled micro- and nanorobots as a new approach to water purification. These programmable synthetic robots can actively seek out and interact with pollutants including microplastics, heavy metals, and organic contaminants, overcoming the limitations of passive treatment methods. The technology represents a promising frontier for more targeted and efficient water remediation.
Micro/Nanorobotics in Environmental Water Governance: Nanoengineering Strategies for Pollution Control
This review examines advances in micro- and nanorobotics for environmental water treatment, including their use in degrading microplastics, organic pollutants, and harmful microorganisms. Researchers highlight the potential of photocatalytic, magnetic, and self-propelled robotic systems to provide more precise and sustainable alternatives to traditional water treatment methods. The study also acknowledges challenges in scalability and cost-effectiveness that need to be addressed before widespread adoption.
Reconfigurable self-assembly of photocatalytic magnetic microrobots for water purification
Researchers built tiny magnetic-photocatalytic robots made of iron oxide coated with titanium dioxide that self-assemble into clusters under light and can be steered by magnets to degrade persistent pollutants in water. In tests, these microrobots rapidly broke down a common herbicide, and the approach may eventually be applied to destroying microplastics in water.
Recent Advancements in Multimodal Chemically Powered Micro/Nanorobots for Environmental Sensing and Remediation
This review covers recent developments in chemically powered micro- and nanorobots designed for environmental sensing and pollution cleanup. Researchers describe how these tiny self-propelling machines can detect and capture pollutants including microplastics, heavy metals, and organic contaminants in water. The study highlights the potential of nanorobot technology as an emerging tool for environmental remediation, though challenges in scalability and real-world deployment remain.
Micromachines for Microplastics Treatment
This review summarizes advances in micro- and nanomotor devices for microplastic removal from aquatic environments, describing how these tiny machines can be powered by chemical fuels or light to propel themselves and capture or degrade plastic particles. The authors identify scalability and environmental safety as key challenges for transitioning from laboratory demonstrations to real-world applications.
Self-driven magnetorobots for recyclable and scalable micro/nanoplastic removal from nonmarine waters
Researchers developed self-driven magnetorobots using magnetizable ion-exchange resin spheres that can dynamically remove micro- and nanoplastics from nonmarine waters, overcoming limitations of conventional chemical flocculation and physical filtration methods.
Are micro/nanorobots an effective solution to eliminate micro/nanoplastics in water/wastewater treatment plants?
Researchers reviewed micro/nanorobots as an emerging strategy for removing microplastics from water, finding that while these tiny magnetically or optically driven devices can capture particles through electrostatic interactions, their high cost, fuel dependence, low plastic degradation efficiency, and risk of secondary pollution currently limit practical deployment.