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SOFT MAGNETIC MICROROBOTS FOR TARGETED DRUG DELIVERYNahrin Nowrose (7251026) 17 October 2019 (has links)
<p>Microrobots
have a promising prospect to be used in healthcare and bioengineering
applications due to their capability to gently access small and delicate body
sites. Unfortunately, traditional materials used for the fabrication of
microrobots are rigid, hindering safe operation due to the transfer of high
stresses to the surrounding tissue. Additionally, traditional microrobots are often
not biocompatible, which threatens the health of the patient if not properly
retrieved. This dissertation describes the fabrication and actuation of
small-scale (several micrometers in all dimensions) magnetic robots that are
soft, biocompatible, and capable of moving over smooth and corrugated surface. <u>S</u>oft
<u>M</u>agnetic <u>M</u>icro <u>R</u>obots (SMµRs) can carry payloads in their
porous interior and release them using external magnetic inputs. SMµRs has therefore
the potential to be used in a wide range of applications—including targeted
drug release and remote biosensing and bio sampling—and access a number of
difficult-to-reach sites in the human body, such as intestines or blood
vessels. The structure of SMµRs consist of three thin layers: Two layers of
polymer with embedded magnetic particles aligned along a preferential
direction. One porous layer, in between the magnetic layers, where the SMµRs
can accumulate and release payloads. SMµRs are small, light in weight, and fast
and inexpensive to fabricate. Moreover, the manufacturing of SMµRs is
compatible with large-scale production processes, facilitating their future
commercial exploitation. Using external rotating magnetic fields, the position
of the SMµRs can be controlled wirelessly <i>via</i> tumbling locomotion. We
demonstrate two types of tumbling locomotion (length-wise and side-wise) as well
as the possibility to release the internal payload of the SMµRs in a discrete or
continuous manner using only changes in the intensity of the external magnetic
field. We studied the performance of SMµRs under a variety of environmental
conditions as well as their capability of overcoming obstacles.</p>
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