Issue 17, 2024

3D-printed microrobots for biomedical applications

Abstract

Microrobots, which can perform tasks in difficult-to-reach parts of the human body under their own or external power supply, are potential tools for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery, microsurgery, imaging and monitoring, tissue engineering, and sensors and actuators. Compared with traditional fabrication methods for microrobots, recent improvements in 3D printers enable them to print high-precision microrobots, breaking through the limitations of traditional micromanufacturing technologies that require high skills for operators and greatly shortening the design-to-production cycle. Here, this review first introduces typical 3D printing technologies used in microrobot manufacturing. Then, the structures of microrobots with different functions and application scenarios are discussed. Next, we summarize the materials (body materials, propulsion materials and intelligent materials) used in 3D microrobot manufacturing to complete body construction and realize biomedical applications (e.g., drug delivery, imaging and monitoring). Finally, the challenges and future prospects of 3D printed microrobots in biomedical applications are discussed in terms of materials, manufacturing and advancement.

Graphical abstract: 3D-printed microrobots for biomedical applications

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
16 May 2024
Accepted
07 Jul 2024
First published
23 Jul 2024

Biomater. Sci., 2024,12, 4301-4334

3D-printed microrobots for biomedical applications

K. Wei, C. Tang, H. Ma, X. Fang and R. Yang, Biomater. Sci., 2024, 12, 4301 DOI: 10.1039/D4BM00674G

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