Fabrication of Bioinspired Artificial Bacterial Flagella Via Two Photon Lithography and Wet Metallization

Abstract

The present work describes for the first time the production of artificial bacterial flagella (ABFs) by combining laser direct writing and wet metallization. ABFs are helical shaped microrobots that can be remotely actuated using low-strength rotating magnetic fields. They can precisely navigate liquid environments, potentially allowing in-vivo cell and drug delivery or localized microsurgery. ABFs are printed via two photon lithography (2PL) and metallized via electroless deposition. The latter is optimized to yield a nanometric CoNiP layer without damaging the delicate structures. The swimming behavior of the CoNiP coated ABFs is then studied by actuating them inside an array of electromagnetic coils.