Soft Micromanipulation Robot for Real‐Time Adaptive Multimodal Operation

Micromanipulation robots hold immense promise for biomedical applications, yet they remain fundamentally limited by three persistent challenges: cross-scale target heterogeneity, spatially constrained workspaces, and integrated multimodal operation requirements. Here, a soft micromanipulation robot (SMR) capable of omnidirectional, micrometer-precision manipulation via a hollow multi-notch agonist-antagonist mechanism is presented. Combining ± 180° bending and 360° rotation for full-angle operation, this bio-inspired design achieves 14 µm positioning accuracy, enabling reliable handling of single-cell-sized objects. The SMR adapts in situ to sensitive biosamples and limited workspaces, supporting diverse manipulation modes including aspiration, transfer, programmable assembly, targeted microinjection, and localized cutting of biospecimens. To evaluate biomedical applicability, an assembly experiment with human kidney cell spheres, which is essential for establishing co-culture models in new drug development is designed. The SMR successfully aspirated, transferred, and precisely positioned multiple assembloids onto ring-shaped biochips, achieving programmable assembly within limited workspaces. The SMR has the potential to be a flexible and adaptable platform for performing delicate operations in various biomedical scenarios, such as in vitro modeling, drug testing, and microscale surgery.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Science
Published
2025-10-21
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202515784
Primary Topic
Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Soft Micromanipulation Robot for Real‐Time Adaptive Multimodal Operation

Z. A. Zhu, Jing Li, He Zhang, Yanping Zhou et al.
Advanced Science
Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies
article

Soft Micromanipulation Robot for Real‐Time Adaptive Multimodal Operation

Z. A. Zhu, Jing Li, He Zhang, Yanping Zhou, Xiaotian Lin, Songlin Zhuang, Chris Gerada, Zhuowei Li, Zhu Yibo
article en

Abstract

Micromanipulation robots hold immense promise for biomedical applications, yet they remain fundamentally limited by three persistent challenges: cross-scale target heterogeneity, spatially constrained workspaces, and integrated multimodal operation requirements. Here, a soft micromanipulation robot (SMR) capable of omnidirectional, micrometer-precision manipulation via a hollow multi-notch agonist-antagonist mechanism is presented. Combining ± 180° bending and 360° rotation for full-angle operation, this bio-inspired design achieves 14 µm positioning accuracy, enabling reliable handling of single-cell-sized objects. The SMR adapts in situ to sensitive biosamples and limited workspaces, supporting diverse manipulation modes including aspiration, transfer, programmable assembly, targeted microinjection, and localized cutting of biospecimens. To evaluate biomedical applicability, an assembly experiment with human kidney cell spheres, which is essential for establishing co-culture models in new drug development is designed. The SMR successfully aspirated, transferred, and precisely positioned multiple assembloids onto ring-shaped biochips, achieving programmable assembly within limited workspaces. The SMR has the potential to be a flexible and adaptable platform for performing delicate operations in various biomedical scenarios, such as in vitro modeling, drug testing, and microscale surgery.

Advanced ScienceVol. 13(2)
University of Nottingham Ningbo China (CN), University of Nottingham (GB), Zhejiang Pharmaceutical College (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 71%
Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies
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