Fabrication and Control of Magnetically Actuated Micro- and Nanorobots for Biomedical Applications

Interest in micro/nanorobots has surged over the past decade, driven by advancements that highlight their potential to enhance various biomedical applications by enabling precision control at scales that traditional surgical tools cannot achieve. For practical applications, they must be mass-manufactured at low cost, functionalized for specific biomedical uses, remotely actuated using a magnetic field, and controllable in complex environments. To address these requirements, researchers have explored a variety of micro/nanorobot designs. Here, we will introduce several types of magnetic micro/nanorobots that have been fabricated and functionalized for biomedical applications. These micro/nanorobots are designed for large-scale production and precise targeting through magnetic field control, and possess properties that are advantageous for anti-cancer therapies. When controlled via a magnetic field, these micro/nanorobots can accurately navigate intricate microchannels, biological surfaces, and biofluids, demonstrating their potential for targeted therapy. Furthermore, the incorporation of soft materials, nanomaterials, or biomaterials enables enhanced functionality for various biomedical applications, including drug delivery, cell delivery, and biosensing. In this talk, we will present our research on the fabrication, functionalization, actuation, and control of magnetic micro/nanorobots and discuss their promising role as platforms for biomedical applications.

Dr. U Kei Cheang is currently an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech). He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University in 2015, where he was a recipient of fellowships from the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), the NSF Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT), and the NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI). Since joining SUSTech in 2017, Dr. Cheang has led an independent research team focused on the development of micro- and nanorobots. His innovative work on robotic microswimmers was recognized with the UNESCO Netexplo Top 10 Award in 2016. Additionally, he received the MOST High-End Foreign Expert Award in 2019, the Shenzhen Overseas High-Level Talent Award in 2019, the Shenzhen Excellent Young Scholars Award in 2022, the Guangdong TZ Young Top Talents Award in 2025, and the NSFC International Excellent Young Scientists Award in 2026.