Cell-inspired particle-based intelligent microrobots

Projektinformationen

CELLOIDS

ID Finanzhilfevereinbarung: 948590

DOI

10.3030/948590

EK-Unterschriftsdatum 16 November 2020

Startdatum 1 Februar 2021

Enddatum 31 Oktober 2026

Finanziert unter

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)

Gesamtkosten

€ 1 499 375,00

EU-Beitrag

€ 1 499 375,00

Koordiniert durch

SCUOLA SUPERIORE DI STUDI UNIVERSITARI E DI PERFEZIONAMENTO S ANNA
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - CELLOIDS (Cell-inspired particle-based intelligent microrobots)

Berichtszeitraum: 2024-02-01 bis 2025-07-31

Zusammenfassung vom Kontext und den Gesamtzielen des Projekts

Microrobots, which are small-scale robotic devices, have the potential to enable non-invasive medical procedures that could revolutionize the field.
However, there are limitations that hinder this vision.
Currently, microrobots have limited functionalities, and rely heavily on external fields for wireless operation, which makes it difficult to execute complex movements and tasks.
As a result, microrobots are not very effective in moving through bodily fluids and tissues, which limits their use in medical applications.

This project aims to address this challenge by developing self-contained microrobots that can autonomously navigate complex 3D biological environments, such as soft body tissues.
The goal is to create microrobots that are capable of long-term monitoring and non-invasive interventions in delicate organs, such as the brain.

To achieve this, the project will establish a new method to design microrobots that are inspired by biological cells that naturally move through body tissues, like immune cells.
These cells move by continuously changing their shape, known as "amoeboid movement", which is powered by intracellular filaments and motor proteins.

The microrobots, called celloids, will consist of a swarm of active particles, each with a liquid body containing self-propelled and sensitive particles.
The particle swarm will be engineered to exhibit desired collective behaviours.
The celloids will adapt their morphology, sense environmental cues and control signals, and autonomously navigate soft tissue-like environments.
By taking inspiration from biological cells, the celloids aim to overcome the limitations of current microrobots and pave the way for revolutionary medical procedures.

Arbeit, die ab Beginn des Projekts bis zum Ende des durch den Bericht erfassten Berichtszeitraums geleistet wurde, und die wichtigsten bis dahin erzielten Ergebnisse

During the first half of our project, we focused on developing microrobots that could move through narrow spaces with ease. Our approach involved creating cell-like vesicles made up of liquid droplets enclosed in a thin, flexible membrane. These vesicles were loaded with magnetic nanoparticles, which enabled us to manipulate their movement using external magnetic fields.

We are currently exploring ways to make the membranes of these vesicles sensitive to environmental changes such as pH gradients. If successful, this will allow the microrobots to detect and follow gradients in their surroundings, enabling them to navigate through body tissues to reach their target site.

We have also developed self-propelled "active" particles, using inert particles that are half-coated with a metal catalyst that can trigger a chemical reaction, such as the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. We are studying the effects of different metal catalysts on the self-propulsion and interaction of these particles. These active particles will be used to power the movement of the microrobots.

To this end, we are currently optimizing the conditions for loading these active particles into our vesicles. We have already demonstrated that the vesicles can be loaded with active particles and that these particles retain their motility inside the vesicles.

Finally, we are using numerical simulations to explore the behaviour of swarms of particles inside curved boundaries. This will help us design the active particles to achieve desired microrobot behaviours.

Fortschritte, die über den aktuellen Stand der Technik hinausgehen und voraussichtliche potenzielle Auswirkungen (einschließlich der bis dato erzielten sozioökonomischen Auswirkungen und weiter gefassten gesellschaftlichen Auswirkungen des Projekts)

Our team has successfully developed the first microrobots with ultra-soft features.
We will demonstrate their ability to move through complex environments that resemble body tissues.
Initially, we will control their movement using external magnetic fields.
However, we plan to make them autonomous in the long run, allowing them to move spontaneously and deform themselves using active particles.
Additionally, they will be able to orient themselves based on external chemical gradients.

particles inside GUVs

Frame from rendering dissemination video

magnetic GUVs

SEM image of Janus particles