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In March of this year, several media outlets highlighted the progress made by British scientists in creating micro-robots using **3D printing technology**. They successfully produced **3D-printed** microswimmers that could navigate inside the human body and even carry small "cargo." Interestingly, a team from the University of California recently introduced a smart 3D-printed micro-robot called the "microfish." According to the researchers, these tiny fish can be injected into the bloodstream to perform specialized medical tasks like sensing, detoxification, and targeted drug delivery.
The research was led by Professor Chen Shaozhen and Professor Joseph Wang from the Department of Nanoengineering at the University of California, San Diego. Their findings were published in *Advanced Materials* on August 12.
These miniature fish represent a major breakthrough in biomedicine. Essentially, they are complex, fish-shaped robots capable of efficient movement in liquid environments. Powered by hydrogen peroxide chemistry and controlled magnetically, they open up new possibilities for in-body applications.
To demonstrate their potential, the researchers conducted an experiment where they loaded toxin-carrying nanoparticles into the microfish and mixed them with polydiacetylene (PDA) nanoparticles, which bind to harmful substances. During the test, the microfish efficiently removed toxins, with the PDA nanoparticles glowing red when they attached to the toxins, making the process visible.
"This experiment shows that microfish can act as an effective detox system and toxin sensor," the researchers explained. "Another exciting possibility is using them to encapsulate drugs and release them in a targeted way."
While many scientists have developed various micro-robots, most rely on simple structures like spheres or cylinders, limiting their functionality. These microfish, however, are more advanced. Researchers embedded functional nanoparticles in specific parts of the robot. For example, platinum nanoparticles on the tail react with hydrogen peroxide to propel the fish forward, while magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles on the head allow directional control.
"By drawing inspiration from nature, we’ve created a completely new design for micro-swimmers that are thinner than a human hair but have complex geometry," said Wei Zhu, one of the paper’s co-first authors. "This method allows us to easily integrate multiple functions into a single micro-robot, opening up a wide range of applications."
The microfish are 3D printed using a technique called micro continuous light projection (μCOP), developed by Professor Chen Shaozhen’s team. This method is fast, scalable, and precise, allowing hundreds of microfish to be printed in just seconds. Each is about 120 microns long and 30 microns thick. The technology also enables customization, allowing the team to create shapes inspired by marine life, such as sharks and manta rays.
"The μCOP technology not only lets us shape the fish but also helps us quickly build other micro-robots based on different forms," the researchers noted.
The process relies on a digital micromirror device (DMD) chip containing two million micromirrors. Each mirror is individually controlled by an algorithm to project UV light according to the desired pattern. The material is then cured layer by layer, similar to SLA 3D printing. This approach makes it easier to test different designs and incorporate various functional nanoparticles into the microstructures.
"With this technology, we can continue to develop safer and more precise surgical micro-robots in the future," the researchers concluded.