Wireless Manipulation of Magnetic/Piezoelectric Micromotors for Precise Neural Stem-Like Cell Stimulation

Precise neural electrical stimulation, which is a means of promoting neuronal regeneration, is a promising solution for patients with neurotrauma and neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, wirelessly controllable targeted motion and precise stimulation at the single-cell level using S.platensis@Fe3O4@tBaTiO(3) micromotors are successfully demonstrated for the first time. A highly versatile and multifunctional biohybrid soft micromotor is fabricated via the integration of S.platensis with magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles and piezoelectric BaTiO3 nanoparticles. The results show that this micromotor system can achieve navigation in a highly controllable manner under a low-strength rotating magnetic field. The as-developed system can achieve single-cell targeted motion and then precisely induce the differentiation of the targeted neural stem-like cell by converting ultrasonic energy to an electrical signal in situ owing to the piezoelectric effect. This new approach toward the high-precision stimulation of neural stem-like cells opens up new applications for micromotors and has excellent potential for precise neuronal regenerative therapies.