Work

Tetherless thermobiochemically actuated microgrippers

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: We demonstrate mass-producible, tetherless microgrippers that can be remotely triggered by temperature and chemicals under biologically relevant conditions. The microgrippers use a self-contained actuation response, obviating the need for external tethers in operation. The grippers can be actuated en masse, even while spatially separated. We used the microgrippers to perform diverse functions, such as picking up a bead on a substrate and the removal of cells from tissue embedded at the end of a capillary (an in vitro biopsy).

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0807698106

Authors: Timothy G. Leong, Christina L. Randall, Bryan R. Benson, Noy Bassik, George M. Stern, David H. Gracias

Institutions: Johns Hopkins University, California Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Micro and Nano Robotics

Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green