Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

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.

2025 ACS Nano 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Magnetically DrivenLiving Microrobot Swarms for AquaticMicro- and Nanoplastic Cleanup

This is a duplicate entry for the magnetically driven living microrobot study (same paper as ID 9516), describing bacterial microrobots with 3D swarming motion for aquatic micro- and nanoplastic cleanup guided by magnetic fields.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Magnetically DrivenLiving Microrobot Swarms for AquaticMicro- and Nanoplastic Cleanup

This is a duplicate entry for the magnetically driven living microrobot study (same paper as ID 9516), describing bacterial microrobots for aquatic micro- and nanoplastic cleanup.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Magnetically DrivenLiving Microrobot Swarms for AquaticMicro- and Nanoplastic Cleanup

This is a duplicate entry for the magnetically driven living microrobot study (same paper as ID 9516), describing bacterial microrobots for aquatic micro- and nanoplastic cleanup.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Magnetically DrivenLiving Microrobot Swarms for AquaticMicro- and Nanoplastic Cleanup

This is a duplicate entry for the magnetically driven living microrobot study (same paper as ID 9516), describing bacterial microrobots for aquatic micro- and nanoplastic cleanup.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Magnetically DrivenLiving Microrobot Swarms for AquaticMicro- and Nanoplastic Cleanup

This is a duplicate entry for the magnetically driven living microrobot study (same paper as ID 9516), describing bacterial microrobots for aquatic micro- and nanoplastic cleanup.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Magnetically DrivenLiving Microrobot Swarms for AquaticMicro- and Nanoplastic Cleanup

This is a duplicate entry for the magnetically driven living microrobot study (same paper as ID 9516), describing bacterial microrobots for aquatic micro- and nanoplastic cleanup.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Advanced Functional Materials 67 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 ACS Nano 60 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Microplastics
Article Tier 2

Tiny robots catch bacteria, microplastics in water

Researchers developed magnetically controlled microbots under 3 micrometers in diameter -- fabricated from Dynabeads coated with polymer strands -- that can capture both free-swimming bacteria and microplastics in water, offering a novel remediation approach for two distinct categories of aquatic contaminants.

2024 C&EN Global Enterprise
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Advanced Functional Materials 23 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 12 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2019 Nanomaterials 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Multimodal collective swimming of magnetically articulated modular nanocomposite robots

Researchers built small magnetic robots from carbon nanotube frameworks coated in a magnetic polymer composite, demonstrating that groups of these robots can swim cooperatively at high speed and generate water vortices capable of collecting and transporting floating microplastics — pointing toward collective robotic approaches for environmental cleanup.

2022 Nature Communications 49 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2022 Science Advances 108 citations
Article Tier 2

A 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.

2024 Micromachines 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Removal and Degradation by Mussel‐Inspired Adhesive Magnetic/Enzymatic Microrobots

Researchers developed tiny magnetic microrobots inspired by mussel adhesive chemistry that can capture and break down microplastics in water. The microrobots use a sticky polydopamine coating to grab microplastic particles and an enzymatic component to degrade them. The study demonstrates a novel, biocompatible approach to actively removing microplastic pollution from aquatic environments, offering a potential alternative to passive filtration methods.

2021 Small Methods 142 citations
Article Tier 2

Photocatalysis dramatically influences motion of magnetic microrobots: Application to removal of microplastics and dyes

Researchers developed magnetic microrobots with photocatalytic capabilities that can capture and break down microplastics and dyes in water. They discovered that the photocatalysis process itself significantly changes the robots' movement patterns, which must be accounted for in design. This technology represents a promising approach to actively removing microplastic pollution from water environments.

2023 Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 46 citations
Article Tier 2

A Maze in Plastic Wastes: Autonomous Motile Photocatalytic Microrobots against Microplastics

Researchers developed sunlight-powered microrobots that can autonomously navigate through water channels, capture microplastic particles, and break them down through photocatalysis. The tiny robots combine photocatalytic and magnetic materials, allowing them to self-propel under visible light and be precisely guided with magnets. The study demonstrates a novel, energy-efficient approach to actively seeking out and degrading microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.

2021 ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 124 citations
Article Tier 2

Propulsion Mechanisms in Magnetic Microrobotics: From Single Microrobots to Swarms

This review examines the propulsion mechanisms of magnetic microrobots, from individual units to coordinated swarms, including their structural design and control methods. Researchers discuss how these tiny robots can be directed using external magnetic fields for tasks like targeted drug delivery and water purification. The technology has potential applications for environmental cleanup, including removing microplastics and other pollutants from water.

2025 Micromachines 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Emerging Applications of Magnetic Nanomaterials in the Remediation of Microplastics from the Aquatic Environment

This review examined the use of magnetic nanomaterials for removing microplastics from aquatic environments, summarizing how magnetic separation can efficiently capture plastic particles for remediation purposes. The authors highlight magnetic nanomaterials as a promising and scalable tool for microplastic cleanup.

2023 5 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Micromachines 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Reconfigurable Self‐Assembling Photocatalytic Magnetic Liquid Metal Microrobot Swarm for Microplastic Capture and Degradation

Researchers developed reconfigurable liquid metal microrobots made from bio-friendly gallium-based materials that can self-assemble into swarms to capture microplastics through electrostatic interactions. The microrobots can be regenerated using ultrasonic treatment for repeated use without losing efficiency. The study presents a potentially sustainable and adaptable solution for microplastic removal from aquatic environments.

2025 Small 7 citations