Topic: Acoustic-based Microrobotic Systems

Ultrasound is an attractive modality for controlling micro/nanorobots due to penetrating deep into tissue, not being affected by the opaque nature of animal bodies, and generating a broad range of forces. However, there is limited work available regarding ultrasound manipulation of nanorobots inside animal models; development of such techniques will provide a muchneeded pathway for advancement of preclinical research. Inspired by the rolling of neutrophils on endovascular walls, we have seeded the concept of upstream motion by micro/nanorobots, which addresses a fundamental limitation and increases their in vivo application range. Currently, we are developing a new type of ultrasound-actuated microrobot that can move against flow measured in cm/s comparable to flow occurs in human veins. These have been demonstrated to execute up-, down-, and cross-stream motion in artificial vasculatures. We are additionally collaborating with the Computer Vision group at ETH Zurich to combine our systems with reinforced learning to enable navigation through the complex vasculature of a living animal. Our innovative propulsion and navigation systems will support novel strategies for targeted drug delivery, including within the leaky vasculature of solid tumours and across the blood-brain barrier. In addition, our technology will have significant impact as a foundation for advancements in brain research and vasculature biology, as well as in furthering our understanding of diseases and the development of relevant treatments. In this talk, I will talk about the different types of acoustic propulsion systems that we are developing in the acoustic robotics systems lab (ARSL) and its use in biomedical applications.