TY - JOUR
T1 - Cilia-inspired flexible arrays for intelligent transport of viscoelastic microspheres
AU - Ben, Shuang
AU - Tai, Jun
AU - Ma, Han
AU - Peng, Yun
AU - Zhang, Yuan
AU - Tian, Dongliang
AU - Liu, Kesong
AU - Jiang, Lei
PY - 2018/4/18
Y1 - 2018/4/18
N2 - Anisotropic microstructures are widely used by being cleverly designed to achieve important functions. Mammals' respiratory tract is filled with dense cilia that rhythmically swing back and forth in a unidirectional wave to propel mucus and harmful substances out of the lung through larynx. Inspired by the ciliary structure and motion mechanism of the respiratory tract systems, a viscoelastic microsphere transporting strategy based on integration of airway cilium-like structure and magnetically responsive flexible conical arrays is demonstrated. Under external magnetic fields, the viscoelastic microspheres can be directionally and continuously transported alongside the swing of the cilia-like arrays that contain magnetic particles. This work provides a promising route for the design of advanced medical applications in directional transport of microspheres, drug delivery systems, ciliary dyskinesia treating, and self-cleaning without liquid.
AB - Anisotropic microstructures are widely used by being cleverly designed to achieve important functions. Mammals' respiratory tract is filled with dense cilia that rhythmically swing back and forth in a unidirectional wave to propel mucus and harmful substances out of the lung through larynx. Inspired by the ciliary structure and motion mechanism of the respiratory tract systems, a viscoelastic microsphere transporting strategy based on integration of airway cilium-like structure and magnetically responsive flexible conical arrays is demonstrated. Under external magnetic fields, the viscoelastic microspheres can be directionally and continuously transported alongside the swing of the cilia-like arrays that contain magnetic particles. This work provides a promising route for the design of advanced medical applications in directional transport of microspheres, drug delivery systems, ciliary dyskinesia treating, and self-cleaning without liquid.
KW - cilia-inspired materials
KW - responsive materials
KW - smart transporting
KW - viscoelastic microspheres
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042055995&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/adfm.201706666
DO - 10.1002/adfm.201706666
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85042055995
VL - 28
JO - Advanced Functional Materials
JF - Advanced Functional Materials
SN - 1616-301X
IS - 16
M1 - 1706666
ER -