A Bioinspired Magnetothermally Triggered Capsule for Rapid Microrobot Release

Abstract

Capsules are attractive platforms for microrobot delivery, combining structural simplicity with protected delivery and rapid release remains challenging. Inspired by the latched spring mechanism of Impatiens balsamina seed dispersal, a magnetothermally triggered capsule integrates a phase-change hydrogel latch, a monostable cover that serves as an elastic spring, and a payload-carrying base. Mechanical analysis guides the cover design to avoid bistability after assembly and premature hydrogel latch rupture before triggering. During transport, the hydrogel constrains the inverted cover. Under an alternating magnetic field, Fe3O4-mediated heating softens the hydrogel and induces cohesive failure, releasing stored energy to drive capsule opening and microrobot ejection. The capsule opens within 50 ms after hydrogel softening and ejects microrobots at an estimated initial velocity of 1.0 m/s. Demonstrations on a three-dimensional platform and ex vivo porcine stomach establish protected delivery, target-site opening, and post-release actuation.

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BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@misc{zhang2026bioinspired,
  title = {{A Bioinspired Magnetothermally Triggered Capsule for Rapid Microrobot Release}},
  author = {Mengfan Zhang and Zike Chen and Zhihao Lv and Zheng Jia and Rui Xiao and Guoyong Mao},
  howpublished = {arXiv},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2609.37598},
  eprint = {2609.37598},
  archivePrefix = {arXiv},
  url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.37598},
}

RIS

TY  - UNPB
TI  - A Bioinspired Magnetothermally Triggered Capsule for Rapid Microrobot Release
AU  - Mengfan Zhang
AU  - Zike Chen
AU  - Zhihao Lv
AU  - Zheng Jia
AU  - Rui Xiao
AU  - Guoyong Mao
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/29
PB  - arXiv
DO  - 10.48550/arxiv.2609.37598
UR  - https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.37598
AB  - Capsules are attractive platforms for microrobot delivery, combining structural simplicity with protected delivery and rapid release remains challenging. Inspired by the latched spring mechanism of Impatiens balsamina seed dispersal, a magnetothermally triggered capsule integrates a phase-change hydrogel latch, a monostable cover that serves as an elastic spring, and a payload-carrying base. Mechanical analysis guides the cover design to avoid bistability after assembly and premature hydrogel latch rupture before triggering. During transport, the hydrogel constrains the inverted cover. Under an alternating magnetic field, Fe3O4-mediated heating softens the hydrogel and induces cohesive failure, releasing stored energy to drive capsule opening and microrobot ejection. The capsule opens within 50 ms after hydrogel softening and ejects microrobots at an estimated initial velocity of 1.0 m/s. Demonstrations on a three-dimensional platform and ex vivo porcine stomach establish protected delivery, target-site opening, and post-release actuation.
ER  -

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