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“By moving the laser through the drop in a controlled way, we can write the shape of the swimmer we want,” said researcher Daniela Kraft. “Because the printing happens inside the droplet and we’re printing layer by layer, we can keep the space open [inside the tugboat cockpit]. “
The team created the boat because it was “fun,” but they also developed more research-specific shapes, including a spiral less than 5 microns in diameter. By tracking the motion, they were able to measure the speed and path of different types of particles.
The 3D printing technique opens the door to the creation of very specific shapes in order to emulate biological microswimmers or to optimize their movement through fluids. “Ultimately, it will allow for greater control and design of the behavior of synthetic micro-swimmers, useful for applications in therapeutic diagnostics and drug delivery,” according to the research paper.
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