Soft Microrobots in Microfluidic Applications

Abstract

Significant progress in the development of microrobots has been witnessed in the last decades. Materials with properties similar to those of cells and microorganisms have been used to construct soft microrobots with increased adaptability and flexibility compared with conventional stiff microrobots. The soft microrobots are designed to execute challenging tasks such as actuation, sensing, and therapy in microfluidics. Moreover, highly deformable and stimulus-responsive properties of the soft microrobots pave the way for sensing and therapeutic functions within blood vessels. Here, we summarize the latest development of soft microrobots built with different materials and discuss their movement and applications in microfluidics. We also identify the challenges and obstacles ahead for soft microrobots, and provide an outlook on their applications in microfluidics.