Matteo Burresi

Papers

Total Citations

438

H-Index

About

Matteo Burresi is a leading figure in the field of soft matter photonics and micro-robotics, whose work has fundamentally advanced our understanding of how light can be harnessed to power and control matter at the smallest scales. His most celebrated contribution is the development of the first light-fueled microscopic artificial walker, a groundbreaking achievement reported in a 2015 paper that has garnered over 438 citations. This work demonstrated a tiny, autonomous device, smaller than any known terrestrial creature, capable of walking across various surfaces using liquid-crystalline elastomer muscles activated by light. Beyond this landmark, Burresi’s research explores the intricate interplay between light and complex materials, including the physics of disordered media and the development of novel photonic structures. His pioneering efforts have not only pushed the boundaries of micro-engineering but have also opened new avenues for soft robotics and targeted drug delivery, establishing him as a key innovator in the quest to create truly autonomous micro-machines.