Synthetic micro/nanomotors represent one of the most exciting research areas in nanotechnology due to their considerable promise for diverse practical applications. Helical microswimmers based on vascular plants, inspired by the motility of natural microorganisms, are described. The helical microstructures are derived from spiral vessels of a wide variety of different plants such as Rhaphiolepis indica or Agapanthus africanus. Sequential deposition of a thin ferromagnetic layer directly on the spiral vessels allows for high-speed propulsion and precise directional control under uniform rotating magnetic field. By harnessing the intrinsic natural structures of plant xylem vessels, and controlling geometric variables of the spiral vessels (e.g., helix diameter and pitch), this new method provides an extremely simple, cost-effective fabrication route for the mass-production of efficient and biocompatible helical magnetic swimmers. The resulting plant-derived magnetically propelled microswimmers display efficient propulsion with a high speed of over 250 �m/s in water, as well as powerful locomotion in biological media such as human serum. The influence of actuation frequencies on the swimming velocity is also investigated. These plant-derived helical microswimmers offer great promise for future biomedical applications.

Plant-based bioinspired magnetically propelled helical microswimmers

248th National Meeting (2014)

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