Natural algae-inspired microrobots for emerging biomedical applications and beyond
Source abstract
Abstract
Algae-inspired microrobots (AIMs) have attracted intense research over the past decade owing to the abundant desired properties of natural microalgae, such as biocompatibility, autofluorescence, and pharmaceutical activity, which make them ideal candidates for biomedical and related applications. With the deepening and widening of applied research, the functions of AIMs have been greatly enriched and enhanced to meet the needs of demanding application scenarios including targeted drug delivery, anticancer/antibacterial therapy, cell stimulation, wound healing, and biomolecule sensing. Notwithstanding, multiple challenges remain to be tackled for transformative advances and clinical translation. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive survey of representative advances in AIMs accompanied by the underlying biological/technological backgrounds. We also highlight existing issues that need to be overcome in AIM developments and suggest future research directions in this field.
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Micro and Nano Robotics · Spaceflight effects on biology · Molecular Communication and Nanonetworks
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
References (100+)
Show source-provided references
1. Hydrogen-bubble-propelled Zinc-based microrockets in strongly acidic media10.1021/ja210874s ↗
2. Tadpole-like artificial micromotor10.1039/C4NR06621A ↗
3. Autonomous nanomotor based on copper-platinum segmented nanobattery10.1021/ja2082735 ↗
4. Nano/microscale motors: biomedical opportunities and challenges10.1021/nn3028997 ↗
5. Microrobots for minimally invasive medicine10.1146/annurev-bioeng-010510-103409 ↗
6. Biomedical applications of untethered mobile milli/microrobots10.1109/JPROC.2014.2385105 ↗
7. Micro/nanorobots for biomedicine: delivery, surgery, sensing, and detoxification10.1126/scirobotics.aam6431 ↗
8. Designing micro- and nanoswimmers for specific applications10.1021/acs.accounts.6b00386 ↗
9. Optically controlled living micromotors for the manipulation and disruption of biological targets10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c02501 ↗
10. Multivariate autofluorescence of intact food systems10.1021/cr050019q ↗
11. Biomorphic mineralization: from biology to materials10.1016/j.pmatsci.2009.02.001 ↗
12. Biologically-active compounds from microalgae10.1016/0141-0229(86)90144-4 ↗
13. Biomimetics of photonic nanostructures10.1038/nnano.2007.152 ↗
14. Biological materials: functional adaptations and bioinspired designs10.1016/j.pmatsci.2012.03.001 ↗
15. Seeing the wood through the trees: a review of techniques for distinguishing green fluorescent protein from endogenous autofluorescence10.1006/abio.2000.5006 ↗
16. Flagellated magnetotactic bacteria as controlled MRI-trackable propulsion and steering systems for medical nanorobots operating in the human microvasculature10.1177/0278364908100924 ↗
17. Development of a sperm-flagella driven micro-bio-robot10.1002/adma.201302544 ↗
18. Bio-hybrid cell-based actuators for microsystems10.1002/smll.201400384 ↗
19. Biomimetism and bioinspiration as tools for the design of innovative materials and systems10.1038/nmat1339 ↗
20. Fabrication of micro/nanoscale motors10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00047 ↗
21. High-yield production of biohybrid microalgae for on-demand cargo delivery10.1002/advs.202001256 ↗
22. Microoxen: microorganisms to move microscale loads10.1073/pnas.0505481102 ↗
23. Volbots: Volvox microalgae-based robots for multimode precision imaging and therapy
24. Controlled regular locomotion of algae cell microrobots10.1007/s10544-016-0074-y ↗
25. Bio-syncretic tweezers actuated by microorganisms: modeling and analysis10.1039/C6SM01055E ↗
26. Engineered algae: a novel oxygen-generating system for effective treatment of hypoxic cancer10.1126/sciadv.aba5996 ↗
27. Facile fabrication of magnetic microrobots based on Spirulina templates for targeted delivery and synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy10.1021/acsami.8b15586 ↗
28. Acceleration of biomolecule enrichment and detection with rotationally motorized opto-plasmonic microsensors and the working mechanism10.1021/acsnano.0c05429 ↗
29. Phosphorus enhances photosynthetic storage starch production in a green microalga (chlorophyta) Tetraselmis subcordiformis in nitrogen starvation conditions10.1021/acs.jafc.8b04798 ↗
30. Artificial flagellates: analysis of advancing motions of biflagellate micro-objects10.1063/1.3327522 ↗
31. Magnetite nanostructured porous hollow helical microswimmers for targeted delivery10.1002/adfm.201502248 ↗
32. Micro-rotary ratchets driven by migratory phytoplankton with phototactic stimulus10.1016/j.precisioneng.2016.11.010 ↗
33. Multifunctional biohybrid magnetite microrobots for imaging-guided therapy10.1126/scirobotics.aaq1155 ↗
34. Microalga-powered microswimmers toward active cargo delivery10.1002/adma.201804130 ↗
35. Bio-inspired magnetic helical microswimmers made of nickel-plated Spirulina with enhanced propulsion velocity10.1016/j.jmmm.2018.08.001 ↗
36. On-cell catalysis by surface engineering of live cells with an artificial metalloenzyme10.1038/s42004-018-0087-y ↗
37. Phototactic algae-driven unidirectional transport of submillimeter-sized cargo in a microchannel10.3390/mi10020130 ↗
38. Molecular cargo delivery using multicellular magnetic microswimmers10.1016/j.apmt.2019.02.006 ↗
39. Photosynthetic biohybrid nanoswimmers system to alleviate tumor hypoxia for FL/PA/MR imaging-guided enhanced radio-photodynamic synergetic therapy
40. ACE2 receptor-modified algae-based microrobot for removal of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater10.1021/jacs.1c04933 ↗
41. Spirulina-templated porous hollow carbon@magnetite core-shell microswimmers
42. Nanoparticle-modified microrobots for in vivo antibiotic delivery to treat acute bacterial pneumonia10.1038/s41563-022-01360-9 ↗
43. Gastrointestinal tract drug delivery using algae motors embedded in a degradable capsule10.1126/scirobotics.abo4160 ↗
44. Magnetic biohybrid microrobot multimers based on Chlorella cells for enhanced targeted drug delivery10.1021/acsami.1c16859 ↗
45. Robotized algal cells and their multiple functions10.1039/D0SM02096F ↗
46. Biohybrid micro pinwheel powered by trapped microalgae
47. Locomotion of microstructures driven by algae cells
48. The transport behavior of a biflagellated microswimmer before and after cargo loading10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c01345 ↗
49. Antibiotic algae by chemical surface engineering10.1002/cbic.201700553 ↗
50. Green algae as a drug delivery system for the controlled release of antibiotics10.1002/chem.202003821 ↗
51. A decoy microrobot that removes SARS-CoV-2 and its variants in wastewater
52. Microalgae-based biohybrid microrobot for accelerated diabetic wound healing10.1002/smll.202204617 ↗
53. Microalgae-based oral microcarriers for gut microbiota homeostasis and intestinal protection in cancer radiotherapy10.1038/s41467-022-28744-4 ↗
54. Photoacoustic imaging-trackable magnetic microswimmers for pathogenic bacterial infection treatment10.1021/acsnano.9b06731 ↗
55. CuS nanodots-loaded biohybrid magnetic helical microrobots with enhanced photothermal performance
56. Control the neural stem cell fate with biohybrid piezoelectrical magnetite micromotors10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c00290 ↗
57. Magnetically actuated biohybrid microswimmers for precise photothermal muscle contraction10.1021/acsnano.2c00833 ↗
58. Wireless manipulation of magnetic/piezoelectric micromotors for precise neural stem-like cell stimulation
59. Wake-riding effect-inspired opto-hydrodynamic Diatombot for non-invasive trapping and removal of nano-biothreats
60. A diatom-based biohybrid microrobot with a high drug-loading capacity and pH-sensitive drug release for target therapy10.1016/j.actbio.2022.10.019 ↗
61. Recent advances of material-decorated photosynthetic microorganisms and their aspects in biomedical applications10.1002/adom.202370034 ↗
62. Micro/nanofabrication, assembly, and actuation based on microorganisms: recent advances and perspectives10.1002/sstr.202200356 ↗
63. Algae: a natural active material for biomedical applications10.1002/VIW.20200189 ↗
64. The rational design and development of microalgae-based biohybrid materials for biomedical applications10.1186/s13059-023-02929-6 ↗
65. Magnetic bio-hybrid micro actuators10.1039/D2NR00152G ↗
66. Small power: autonomous nano- and micromotors propelled by self-generated gradients10.1016/j.nantod.2013.08.009 ↗
67. Chlamydomonas as a model organism10.1146/annurev.arplant.52.1.363 ↗
68. Chemoresponses of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii10.1128/jb.134.2.671-673.1978 ↗
69. Simultaneous coupling of phototaxis and electrotaxis in Volvox algae10.1103/PhysRevE.89.042714 ↗
70. Incorporation of Terbium into a microalga leads to magnetotactic swimmers
71. Artificial magnetotaxis of microbot: magnetophoresis versus self-swimming10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b01210 ↗
72. Biohybrid microswimmers against bacterial infections10.1016/j.actbio.2021.09.048 ↗
73. Controlled propulsion of wheel-shape flaky microswimmers under rotating magnetic fields10.1063/1.5090297 ↗
74. The hydrodynamics of swimming microorganisms10.1088/0034-4885/72/9/096601 ↗
75. Design methodology for biomimetic propulsion of miniature swimming robots10.1115/1.2171439 ↗
76. Light control of the flow of phototactic microswimmer suspensions10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.138106 ↗
77. Proteomic analysis of a eukaryotic cilium10.1083/jcb.200504008 ↗
78. Dynein arms are oscillating force generators10.1038/31520 ↗
79. Bending patterns of Chlamydomonas flagella: IV. Mutants with defects in inner and outer dynein arms indicate differences in dynein arm function10.1002/cm.970080110 ↗
80. Light-powered reactivation of flagella and contraction of microtubule networks: toward building an artificial cell10.1021/acssynbio.1c00071 ↗
81. Regulation of dynein-driven microtubule sliding by the radial spokes in flagella10.1126/science.1387971 ↗
82. Flagellar mutants of Chlamydomonas: studies of radial spoke-defective strains by dikaryon and revertant analysis10.1073/pnas.74.8.3456 ↗
83. Eyespot-dependent determination of the phototactic sign in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii10.1073/pnas.1525538113 ↗
84. A steering mechanism for phototaxis in Chlamydomonas10.1098/rsif.2014.1164 ↗
85. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii swimming in the Plateau borders of 2D foams10.1039/D0SM01206H ↗
86. High-speed cinematographic analysis of the movement of Chlamydomonas10.1002/cm.970050307 ↗
87. The photoreceptor current of the green alga Chlamydomonas10.1098/rstb.1992.0127 ↗
88. How Chlamydomonas keeps track of the light once it has reached the right phototactic orientation10.1016/S0006-3495(97)78188-8 ↗
89. Rhodopsin-regulated calcium currents in Chlamydomonas10.1038/351489a0 ↗
90. The nature of rhodopsin-triggered photocurrents in Chlamydomonas. I. Kinetics and influence of divalent ions10.1016/S0006-3495(96)79635-2 ↗
91. Light antennas in phototactic algae10.1128/mr.44.4.572-630.1980 ↗
92. A revolution in optical manipulation10.1038/nature01935 ↗
93. Single upconversion nanoparticle-bacterium cotrapping for single-bacterium labeling and analysis10.1002/smll.201603418 ↗
94. Manipulation and motion of organelles and single molecules in living cells10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00638 ↗
95. Optical tweezers: a force to be reckoned with10.1016/j.cell.2018.11.019 ↗
96. Optical forces: from fundamental to biological applications10.1002/adma.202001994 ↗
97. UV-induced DNA damage and repair: a review10.1039/b201230h ↗
98. Actions of ultraviolet light on cellular structures
99. Manipulation of micro- and nanostructure motion with magnetic fields10.1039/C3SM52294F ↗
100. Beyond imaging: Macro- and microscale medical robots actuated by clinical MRI scanners10.1126/scirobotics.aam8119 ↗