Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems have coated a single-celled green microalga with a magnetic material and turned it into a microrobot. In nature, the ten-micro meters small algae are fantastic swimmers, propelled by their two whip-like flagella at the front. The scientists found that the micro robots maintained their swimming speed after magnetization, demonstrating an average speed of 115 micrometers per second - that’s about 12 body lengths per second. By comparison: an Olympic swimmer like Michael Phelps can only reach a speed of 1.4 body lengths per second. Note that the algae is just a cell without legs and feet. The study provides insights into how magnetic guidance enables the micro-robots to navigate with precision through narrow, tissue-like environments. The findings open the door to applications such as targeted drug delivery, providing a biocompatible solution for medical treatments with exciting potential for future innovations in biomedicine and beyond.
is.mpg.de/news
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems have coated a single-celled green microalga with a magnetic material and turned it into a microrobot. In nature, the ten-micro meters small algae are fantastic swimmers, propelled by their two whip-like flagella at the front. The scientists found that the micro robots maintained their swimming speed after magnetization, demonstrating an average speed of 115 micrometers per second - that’s about 12 body lengths per second. By comparison: an Olympic swimmer like Michael Phelps can only reach a speed of 1.4 body lengths per second. Note that the algae is just a cell without legs and feet. The study provides insights into how magnetic guidance enables the micro-robots to navigate with precision through narrow, tissue-like environments. The findings open the door to applications such as targeted drug delivery, providing a biocompatible solution for medical treatments with exciting potential for future innovations in biomedicine and beyond.
is.mpg.de/news
