Bioinspired ultrasound-driven ultrafast soft microgripper

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Zhong, Chengxi; Winderoll, Vincent; Kshetri, Khemraj Gautam; Dillinger, Cornel; Bianchi, Tommaso; Shi, Zhan; Schnermann, Justus; Amabili, Marco; Liu, Song; Wittkowski, Raphael; Nama, Nitesh; Ahmed, Daniel
• 署名单位: Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology Domain; ETH Zurich; ShanghaiTech University; University of Nebraska System; University of Nebraska Lincoln; University of Geneva; University of Bern; Westlake University; RWTH Aachen University; Leibniz Association; DWI Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials; University of Munster
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2537655123
• 发表日期: 2026-05-19
• 页码: e2537655123
• 关键词: sound-soft matter interaction; bioinspired artificial microcilia; ultrasound actuation; COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTS; manipulation; hydrogels

摘要

Understanding how acoustic waves interact with soft matter is critical for developing new strategies for dynamic control, actuation, sensors, and manipulation at small scales. A major challenge in soft matter and microrobotics is how to achieve fast, precise, and remotely controlled actuation at the microscale without sacrificing compliance or biocompatibility. Here, we introduce wireless artificial microcilia based on acoustically activated soft hydrogel microstructures inspired by Venus flytrap and vorticella. The structures, termed SonoGrippers, consist of dual microcilia (<= 120 mu m length) with outward-facing sharp tips. Upon acoustic excitation, SonoGrippers deliver ultrafast (similar to 2 ms), reversible, and controllable actuation, enabling remote attraction, gripping, and release of objects. By tuning structural designs and acoustic parameters, SonoGrippers exhibit diverse deformation modes and tunable response dynamics, allowing adaptable gripping performance across various application scenarios. Proof-of-concept demonstrations with stationary and mobile biological samples confirm their robust functionality. Combining simple fabrication, additive-free operation, wireless rapid control, and biocompatibility, SonoGrippers provide a promising platform toward next-generation biomedical manipulation, soft microrobotics, and bioengineering applications.