The movement of microswimmers can be manipulated by applying an electric field, according to research conducted by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS), the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad, and the University of Twente in the Netherlands. By comparing experimental results with theoretical modeling predictions, the researchers were able to tune the direction and mode of motion of microswimmers through a microchannel. This allows for different interactions with the environment, such as oscillation, wall adherence, and centerline orientation.
Microswimmers often need to navigate narrow environments like microchannels in porous media or blood vessels. These swimmers can be of biological origin, like algae or bacteria, or they can be custom-designed structures used for transporting chemicals and drugs. It is important to control how they swim in relation to walls and boundaries to facilitate fuel or information exchange while preventing them from adhering where they shouldn’t be.
Many microswimmers are electrically charged, making electric fields a versatile method to guide them through complex environments. Scientists from MPI-DS conducted experiments on self-propelling artificial microswimmers to explore the influence of electric fields and pressure-driven flow on their motion in a channel. By identifying distinct modes of motion and the control parameters, the researchers were able to demonstrate the ability to control the motion of microswimmers through the application of electric fields and flow.
The researchers discovered that by applying an electric field and flow through the channel, a wide range of motility patterns could be generated. This allowed the microswimmers to adhere to channel walls, follow the centerline, oscillate, move in a straight line, or even execute U-turns if needed. The analysis of these different states of motion was conducted using a general hydrodynamic model applicable to any swimmer with a surface charge. This model can help understand and customize artificial microswimmers, offering inspiration for applications in autonomous micro-robotics and biotechnology.
The ability to control the motion of microswimmers using electric fields has significant implications for various applications, such as drug delivery and environmental monitoring. By understanding how electric fields can influence the behavior of microswimmers, researchers can optimize their design and performance in specific environments. This research opens up new possibilities for manipulating microswimmers to perform tasks in confined spaces and complex environments, enhancing their potential for use in various technological applications.
Overall, the research conducted by scientists from MPI-DS, IIT Hyderabad, and the University of Twente sheds light on the physical principles underlying the manipulation of microswimmer motion through the application of electric fields. By understanding how electric fields can control the direction and mode of motion of microswimmers, researchers can develop new strategies for guiding these microscopic entities through complex environments. This research has implications for various fields, including biotechnology, environmental monitoring, and autonomous micro-robotics, where controlling the motion of microswimmers is key to their successful deployment and operation.