Hydrogel microrobots actuated by optically generated vapour bubbles.

A novel hydrogel microrobot made of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) is reported. This disk-shaped microrobot is optothermally actuated by laser-induced bubbles. A pulsed laser is used to smoothly actuate an 80-μm-diameter bubble microrobot at up to 320 μm s(-1).

An Optically Controlled 3D Cell Culturing System.

A novel 3D cell culture system was developed and tested. The cell culture device consists of a microfluidic chamber on an optically absorbing substrate. Cells are suspended in a thermoresponsive hydrogel solution, and optical patterns are utilized to heat the solution, producing localized hydrogel formation around cells of interest.