Microfluidic Design of Streamlined Alginate Hydrogel Micromotors with Run and Tumble Motion Patterns

Abstract

Autonomous micromotors demonstrate remarkable advancements in biomedical applications. A noteworthy example is streamlined motors, which display enhanced movement efficiency with low fluid-resistance. However, existing streamlined motors, primarily constructed from inorganic materials, present challenges due to their complex fabrication procedures and lack of a soft interface for interaction with biological systems. Herein, a novel design of biodegradable streamlined alginate hydrogel micromotors with a teardrop shape by microfluidics is introduced. The platform enables the high-throughput fabrication of monodisperse micromotors with varied dimensions. By incorporating Pt-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles, micromotors are equipped with dual capabilities of catalytic propulsion and accurate magnetic guidance. Through precisely tuning the localization regions of catalysts within the micromotors, the streamlined hydrogel micromotors not only exhibit enhanced propelling efficiency, but also accomplish distinct motion patterns of run and tumble. The design provides insights for developing advanced micromotors capable of executing intricate tasks across diverse application scenarios.