MICROFLUIDIC CELL MANIPULATION BY BIOMOLECULAR ARTIFICIAL MUSCLE-DRIVEN MICROGRIPPERS

Effective cell manipulation is crucial for cell culture and analysis in microfluidic systems.However, traditional hydrodynamic methods have limitations in terms of flexibility and the ability to control specific single cells.Some active methods like dielectrophoretic, and optical tweezers, also suffer from poor biocompatibility and complex peripherals [1].In this context, we turned to the biomolecular artificial muscle proposed in our previous work, which self-assembles from molecular motors through UV illumination and can generate a micronewton-range tension force, enabling the actuation of mechanical components at the microscale (Figure 1) [2][3].Its printability, biocompatibility, and no need for external energy sources give it the potential to enhance cell manipulation flexibility in microfluidics without increasing costs.In this work, we showcased this potential with a novel type of microgripper, which is in-situ fabricated, driven by the artificial muscle, and capable of diverse cell manipulations in microchannels, including trapping, transportation, and compression, through different gripper heads.