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One-step formation of polymorphous sperm-like microswimmers by vortex turbulence-assisted microfluidics

Author

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  • Rong Tan

    (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

  • Xiong Yang

    (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

  • Haojian Lu

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Yajing Shen

    (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

Microswimmers are considered promising candidates for active cargo delivery to benefit a wide spectrum of biomedical applications. Yet, big challenges still remain in designing the microswimmers with effective propelling, desirable loading and adaptive releasing abilities all in one. Inspired by the morphology and biofunction of spermatozoa, we report a one-step formation strategy of polymorphous sperm-like magnetic microswimmers (PSMs) by developing a vortex turbulence-assisted microfluidics (VTAM) platform. The fabricated PSM is biodegradable with a core-shell head and flexible tail, and their morphology can be adjusted by vortex flow rotation speed and calcium chloride solution concentration. Benefiting from the sperm-like design, our PSM exhibits both effective motion ability under remote mag/netic actuation and protective encapsulation ability for material loading. Further, it can also realize the stable sustain release after alginate-chitosan-alginate (ACA) layer coating modification. This research proposes and verifies a new strategy for the sperm-like microswimmer construction, offering an alternative solution for the target delivery of diverse drugs and biologics for future biomedical treatment. Moreover, the proposed VTAM could also be a general method for other sophisticated polymorphous structures fabrication that isn’t achievable by conventional laminar flow.

Suggested Citation

  • Rong Tan & Xiong Yang & Haojian Lu & Yajing Shen, 2024. "One-step formation of polymorphous sperm-like microswimmers by vortex turbulence-assisted microfluidics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-49043-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49043-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Reza Nosrati & Amine Driouchi & Christopher M. Yip & David Sinton, 2015. "Two-dimensional slither swimming of sperm within a micrometre of a surface," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Haojian Lu & Mei Zhang & Yuanyuan Yang & Qiang Huang & Toshio Fukuda & Zuankai Wang & Yajing Shen, 2018. "A bioinspired multilegged soft millirobot that functions in both dry and wet conditions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, December.
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