Ultrasound?Controlled Swarmbots Under Physiological Flow Conditions

Navigation of microrobots in living vasculatures is essential realizing targeted drug delivery and advancing non-invasive surgeries. Acoustically-controlled “swarmbots” are developed based on the self-assembly clinically-approved microbubbles (MBs). Ultrasound noninvasive, penetrates deeply into human body, well-developed clinical settings. This propulsion strategy relies two forces: primary radiation force secondary Bjerknes force. Upon ultrasound activation, MBs self-assemble microswarms, which migrate toward anchor at containing vessel's wall. A second transducer, produces an acoustic field parallel to channel, propels swarms along Noting that arteries have a blood flow 5–19 cm s?1, powerful features cross- upstream swarmbot navigation demonstrated against physiologically-relevant rates reach 16.7 s?1. Additionally, controlled swarmbots shown within mice under pulsatile conditions 100 beats per minute (bpm); adult heart rest executes between 60 bpm. capability represents much-needed pathway for preclinical research.