Generating mobile fluidic traps for selective three-dimensional transport of microobjects

We demonstrate noncontact transport of microscale objects in liquid environments using untethered, magnetic microrobots. The flow and vortices generated by the rotating microrobot are efficient for selective and gentle trapping, stable transport, and targeted delivery of microscale cargo. The motion of the microrobots can be precisely controlled even at very low frequencies using an advanced magnetic control signal. The design and control methodology presented here can be followed to develop microrobots utilizing the generated fluid flows and performing a variety of biomedical manipulation tasks. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.