Fabrication and optical manipulation of micro-robots for biomedical applications

Abstract

Optical manipulation is a technology that enables accurate manipulation of microrobots in fluidic environment. Optical microrobots, which can be used as micro-tools to perform indirect micro-objects manipulation via optical tweezer (OT) have been employed for various biomedical applications. Supported by the latest advances in 3D microfabrication, microrobots with sophisticated structures can be created with good reproducibility and yield, further expanding the use of OT for manipulating microrobots. In this review, emerging concepts and recent progress of allied techniques (e.g. micro-fabrication and materials), as well as the general trend of optical microrobots, are introduced. Technically, the paper also covers visual perception and manipulation of microrobots with OT. We further highlight open research challenges and future research directions.