Microtori devices mimic bacteria for targeted drug delivery

This is the view of a team of researchers from Britain, Canada, and the US who’ve overcome fabrication challenges associated with replicating biological designs that have evolved to thrive in challenging environments. Their microscopic, 3D-printed, doughnut-shaped tori are coated with nickel and platinum and could bridge the gap between biological and synthetic swimmers.

"It's really hard to get things to mix when using a lab-on-a-chip," said Remmi Danae Baker, doctoral candidate in material science and engineering, Penn State University. "These microtori, because they are active materials and move on their own, could be used to aid in micromixing."

Igor Aronson, Huck Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and Mathematics, Penn State, added that may eventually have medical applications as active materials.

Disrupting bacterial communication opens up artifical cell design

The researchers manufactured the tori using a Nanoscribe Photonic Professional GT machine that allows creation of the 3μm, 7μm or 14μm tori with printed features of up to 200nm. The Nanoscribe uses precise laser technology and specially designed photoresists to achieve this.