Executive Summary : | The biomedical applications of microrobots require a scalable fabrication technique for producing large numbers of swimmers, which is crucial for targeted delivery of therapeutic molecules. Current methods, such as helical or spiral-shaped magnetic micro-robots, are used to demonstrate controlled navigation in fluid mediums. However, these techniques are substrate-based and require large processing time and expensive setups. An alternative scalable technique is needed to fabricate micro-robots in large numbers and demonstrate their controlled navigation. This proposal proposes a scalable one-pot synthesis method for polymeric magnetic micro-robots, using an arc-shaped swimmer with lower asymmetry. The fabrication of large polymeric magnetic rods is demonstrated using a sheared liquid in liquid dispersion technique, which transforms into an arc shape through annealing. The magnetized arc also has rotation-translation coupling, ensuring propulsion in an external rotating field. Directionality in large swarms can be ensured by including an additional static magnetic field. The project aims to demonstrate the scalable synthesis of magnetic micro-arcs and swarm control in large ensembles for the first time. The fabrication technique will be extended to other polymeric systems, including hydrogels, loaded with therapeutic molecules and amenable to degradation in biological mediums. This will become a demonstration of bulk synthesis of drug-loaded biodegradable microrobots and their controlled motion for ready use in biomedical applications. This project presents a new direction in the field of micro-robots by developing a scalable polymeric micro-robotic system that can be adapted to fabricate micro-robots tailored to any environment and set up for future exploration in living systems. |