A Review of Single-Cell Microrobots: Classification, Driving Methods and Applications

Abstract

Single-cell microrobots are new microartificial devices that use a combination of single cells and artificial devices, with the advantages of small size, easy degradation and ease of manufacture. With externally driven strategies such as light fields, sound fields and magnetic fields, microrobots are able to carry out precise micromanipulations and movements in complex microenvironments. Therefore, single-cell microrobots have received more and more attention and have been greatly developed in recent years. In this paper, we review the main classifications, control methods and recent advances in the field of single-cell microrobot applications. First, different types of robots, such as cell-based microrobots, bacteria-based microrobots, algae-based microrobots, etc., and their design strategies and fabrication processes are discussed separately. Next, three types of external field-driven technologies, optical, acoustic and magnetic, are presented and operations realized in vivo and in vitro by applying these three technologies are described. Subsequently, the results achieved by these robots in the fields of precise delivery, minimally invasive therapy are analyzed. Finally, a short summary is given and current challenges and future work on microbial-based robotics are discussed.

Illuminating the Tiny World: A Navigation Guide for Proper Raman Studies on Microorganisms

“…If a cell is nearby, it interacts with the laser and, due to the transfer of momentum from the incident photons, is drawn into the trap by gradient optical forces. The trapped cell may be moved in three dimensions by either moving the focal point or translating the sample chamber while maintaining the trap fixed [ 243 , 249 , 250 , 251 ].…”

A Nanorobotics-Based Approach of Breast Cancer in the Nanotechnology Era

“…Different types of single-cell microrobots, such as cell-based microrobots, bacteriabased microrobots and algae-based microrobots [27], have been largely developed in recent years [98] to exploit the natural mobility and other features of cells/organisms for the transport and biodistribution of different drugs [99]. Cell-based microrobots, such as erythrocytes, sperm cells [100], leukocytes and other motile cells driven microrobots, are considered effective for targeted drug delivery, due to their escape mechanisms and biocompatibility [98]. Magnetic bacteria-based bio-hybrid microrobots are a widely used living material in the field of magnetically driven diagnostics [101] as well as for targeted cancer therapy [102].…”

Bio-Hybrid Magnetic Robots: From Bioengineering to Targeted Therapy

“…In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on developing biomimetic micro/nanorobots using mammalian cells, due to their superior biocompatibility and safety compared to bacteria and plant sources [23,24]. This has spurred increased efforts in in-Figure 1.…”

“…In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on developing biomimetic micro/nanorobots using mammalian cells, due to their superior biocompatibility and safety compared to bacteria and plant sources [23,24]. This has spurred increased efforts in incorporating natural cell components into artificial miniaturized devices, such as utilizing cell membranes derived from living cells to functionalize micro/nanorobots or directly employing living cells to engulf them [25].…”