Femtosecond laser programmed artificial musculoskeletal systems

Zhuo-Chen Ma, Yong-Lai Zhang (), Bing Han, Xin-Yu Hu, Chun-He Li, Qi-Dai Chen and Hong-Bo Sun ()
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Zhuo-Chen Ma: Jilin University
Yong-Lai Zhang: Jilin University
Bing Han: Tsinghua University
Xin-Yu Hu: Jilin University
Chun-He Li: Jilin University
Qi-Dai Chen: Jilin University
Hong-Bo Sun: Jilin University

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Natural musculoskeletal systems have been widely recognized as an advanced robotic model for designing robust yet flexible microbots. However, the development of artificial musculoskeletal systems at micro-nanoscale currently remains a big challenge, since it requires precise assembly of two or more materials of distinct properties into complex 3D micro/nanostructures. In this study, we report femtosecond laser programmed artificial musculoskeletal systems for prototyping 3D microbots, using relatively stiff SU-8 as the skeleton and pH-responsive protein (bovine serum albumin, BSA) as the smart muscle. To realize the programmable integration of the two materials into a 3D configuration, a successive on-chip two-photon polymerization (TPP) strategy that enables structuring two photosensitive materials sequentially within a predesigned configuration was proposed. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrate a pH-responsive spider microbot and a 3D smart micro-gripper that enables controllable grabbing and releasing. Our strategy provides a universal protocol for directly printing 3D microbots composed of multiple materials.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18117-0

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