Photonic nanojet-regulated soft microalga-robot with controllable deformation and navigation capability
Jianyun Xiong,
Ziyi He,
Guoshuai Zhu,
Xing Li,
Yang Shi,
Ting Pan,
Shuhan Zhong,
He Wang,
Zihao Su,
Liliang Ye,
Baojun Li,
Hongbao Xin
Affiliations
Jianyun Xiong
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of Nanophotonics, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University
Ziyi He
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of Nanophotonics, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University
Guoshuai Zhu
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of Nanophotonics, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University
Xing Li
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of Nanophotonics, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University
Yang Shi
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of Nanophotonics, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University
Ting Pan
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of Nanophotonics, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University
Shuhan Zhong
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of Nanophotonics, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University
He Wang
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of Nanophotonics, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University
Zihao Su
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of Nanophotonics, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University
Liliang Ye
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of Nanophotonics, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University
Baojun Li
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of Nanophotonics, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University
Hongbao Xin
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Institute of Nanophotonics, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University
Abstract Micro/nanorobots have shown great potential to execute different tasks in microenvironments due to their small size, high controllability and environmental adaptability. However, it is still challenging to precisely control the deformation and navigation of soft micro/nanorobots to better adapt to unstructured and complex surroundings. Here, we report a photonic nanojet (PNJ)-regulated soft microalga robot (saBOT) based on Euglena gracilis with controlled deformation and precise navigation capability. The deformability of the saBOT was precisely controlled by the highly focused light energy from a microlens-based PNJ bound to a tapered optical fiber probe (TFP), which can precisely stimulate the channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) in the photoreceptor of the microalga. This saBOT can be further precisely navigated toward different positions in complex and unstructured microenvironments by combining the deformability with the phototaxis ability of the microalga via the flexible manipulation of TFP. Notably, due to the ability of controllable deformation and precision navigation, the saBOT can travel across cell clusters for precision drug delivery toward a target cell. This PNJ-regulated saBOT holds great promise in executing different biomedical tasks in complex and unstructured microenvironments that cannot be reached by conventional tools and rigid microrobots.
