Microrobotic swarms for selective embolization.

Inspired by the collective intelligence in natural swarms, microrobotic agents have been controlled to form artificial swarms for targeted drug delivery, enhanced imaging, and hyperthermia. Different from these well-investigated tasks, this work aims to develop microrobotic swarms for embolization, which is a clinical technique used to block blood vessels for treating tumors, fistulas, and arteriovenous malformations. Magnetic particle swarms were formed for selective embolization to address the low selectivity of the present embolization technique that is prone to cause complications such as stroke and blindness. We established an analytical model that describes the relationships between fluid viscosity, flow rate, branching angle, magnetic field strength, and swarm integrity, based on which an actuation strategy was developed to maintain the swarm integrity inside a targeted region under fluidic flow conditions. Experiments in microfluidic channels, ex vivo tissues, and in vivo porcine kidneys validated the efficacy of the proposed strategy for selective embolization.

Magnetic Measurement and Stimulation of Cellular and Intracellular Structures.

From single-pole magnetic tweezers to robotic magnetic-field generation systems, the development of magnetic micromanipulation systems, using electromagnets or permanent magnets, has enabled a multitude of applications for cellular and intracellular measurement and stimulation. Controlled by different configurations of magnetic-field generation systems, magnetic particles have been actuated by an external magnetic field to exert forces/torques and perform mechanical measurements on the cell membrane, cytoplasm, cytoskeleton, nucleus, intracellular motors, etc. The particles have also been controlled to generate aggregations to trigger cell signaling pathways and produce heat to cause cancer cell apoptosis for hyperthermia treatment. Magnetic micromanipulation has become an important tool in the repertoire of toolsets for cell measurement and stimulation and will continue to be used widely for further explorations of cellular/intracellular structures and their functions. Existing review papers in the literature focus on fabrication and position control of magnetic particles/structures (often termed micronanorobots) and the synthesis and functionalization of magnetic particles. Differently, this paper reviews the principles and systems of magnetic micromanipulation specifically for cellular and intracellular measurement and stimulation. Discoveries enabled by magnetic measurement and stimulation of cellular and intracellular structures are also summarized. This paper ends with discussions on future opportunities and challenges of magnetic micromanipulation in the exploration of cellular biophysics, mechanotransduction, and disease therapeutics.

Spatial mapping of tissue properties in vivo reveals a 3D stiffness gradient in the mouse limb bud.

Numerous hypotheses invoke tissue stiffness as a key parameter that regulates morphogenesis and disease progression. However, current methods are insufficient to test hypotheses that concern physical properties deep in living tissues. Here we introduce, validate, and apply a magnetic device that generates a uniform magnetic field gradient within a space that is sufficient to accommodate an organ-stage mouse embryo under live conditions. The method allows rapid, nontoxic measurement of the three-dimensional (3D) spatial distribution of viscoelastic properties within mesenchyme and epithelia. Using the device, we identify an anteriorly biased mesodermal stiffness gradient along which cells move to shape the early limb bud. The stiffness gradient corresponds to a Wnt5a-dependent domain of fibronectin expression, raising the possibility that durotaxis underlies cell movements. Three-dimensional stiffness mapping enables the generation of hypotheses and potentially the rigorous testing of mechanisms of development and disease.

Strategic measurement for the axis-orientation and electro-optic coefficient of BaTiO3 crystal thin-film grown on MgO crystal with polarization modulations: erratum.

In this erratum the set of Eqs. (2a) and (2b), Eqs. (4) and (5), and the corresponding figure and values in the text of Opt. Lett.45, 4215 (2019)OPLEDP0146-959210.1364/OL.44.004215 have been updated.

Strategic measurement for the axis orientation and electro-optic coefficient of BaTiO3 crystal thin film grown on MgO crystal with polarization modulations.

BaTiO3 crystal thin film has been investigated to realize electro-optic (EO) devices due to its ultrahigh EO effect, but not much research has been focused on the correct axis orientation and EO coefficient. In this Letter, with a BaTiO3 crystal film grown by pulse laser deposition technique on ⟨100⟩ MgO crystal substrate, an embedded device configuration having the two-step etched waveguide/electrode scheme is designed to reach a high optic-electrical field interaction efficiency, and a 45° outside electric field with an in-plane axis is set to fit the possibility of the a-axis or c-axis orientation of the BaTiO3 crystal film. Then, through a poling process to the sample, the 1π, 2π, and 3π EO modulations of linear polarization are implemented at 4.9, 9.3, and 11.8 V, respectively, and a decremental voltage period is found. Thereby, a c-axis oriented BaTiO3 crystal film is determined, so that the nonlinear modulation equation is exploited. Finally, with an overlap of 1π, 2π, and 3π modulations, the coherent EO coefficient r51 and birefringence of 606 pm/V and -0.0215 are obtained, resulting in one (Vπ)2L value of 68 (V2·mm).

Image routing via atomic spin coherence.

Coherent storage of optical image in a coherently-driven medium is a promising method with possible applications in many fields. In this work, we experimentally report a controllable spatial-frequency routing of image via atomic spin coherence in a solid-state medium driven by electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). Under the EIT-based light-storage regime, a transverse spatial image carried by the probe field is stored into atomic spin coherence. By manipulating the frequency and spatial propagation direction of the read control field, the stored image is transferred into a new spatial-frequency channel. When two read control fields are used to retrieve the stored information, the image information is converted into a superposition of two spatial-frequency modes. Through this technique, the image is manipulated coherently and all-optically in a controlled fashion.