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. 2013 Nov 6;25(41):5863-8.
doi: 10.1002/adma.201301484. Epub 2013 Jul 17.

Fabrication and characterization of magnetic microrobots for three-dimensional cell culture and targeted transportation

Sangwon Kim  1 , Famin Qiu, Samhwan Kim, Ali Ghanbari, Cheil Moon, Li Zhang, Bradley J Nelson, Hongsoo Choi
Affiliations

Fabrication and characterization of magnetic microrobots for three-dimensional cell culture and targeted transportation

Sangwon Kim et al. Adv Mater. .

Abstract

Magnetically manipulated microrobots are demonstrated for targeted cell transportation. Full three-dimensional (3D) porous structures are fabricated with an SU-8 photoresist using a 3D laser lithography system. Nickel and titanium are deposited as a magnetic material and biocompatible material, respectively. The fabricated microrobots are controlled in the fluid by external magnetic fields. Human embryonic kidney 239 (HEK 239) cells are cultivated in the microrobot to show the possibility for targeted cell transportation.

Keywords: magnetic manipulation; microrobots; targeted cell transportation; three-dimensional cell culture.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
a) Overview of the microrobot fabrication process. b) Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image of the fabricated microrobots. c) Enlarged SEM image of a cylindrical-shaped microrobot. d) Enlarged SEM image of a hexahedral-shaped microrobot. e) Magnetization of the microrobots per unit volume of nickel.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic description of the a) translational motion and b) rotational motion of the cylindrical microrobot. Time-lapsed images of the cylindrical microrobots c) translational motion (see Video S1) and d) rotational motion (see Video S2). e) Synchronized swimming with rolling motion (see Video S3). f) Targeted control with rotational motion (see Video S4).
Figure 3
Figure 3
a) Calculated magnetic force on the microrobots, along with their volume of nickel and magnetic field gradient. b) Translational velocity of the cylindrical and hexahedral microrobots in the x-direction as a function of the applied magnetic field gradient. The microrobots were aligned with the z-direction. (Note that these data correspond to Figures 2a and c for the cylindrical robot.)
Figure 4
Figure 4
a) SEM image of a hexahedral microrobot after cell culture and b) an enlarged SEM image. Filopodia are clearly shown in this enlarged image. Confocal microscope images of the c) hexahedral and d) cylindrical microrobots after staining of the cells.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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