Magnetic propulsion of self-assembled colloidal carpets: efficient cargo transport via a conveyor-belt effect

Abstract

We demonstrate a general method to assemble and propel highly maneuverable colloidal carpets which can be steered via remote control in any direction of the plane. These colloidal micropropellers are composed by an ensemble of spinning rotors and can be readily used to entrap, transport, and release biological cargos on command via a hydrodynamic conveyor-belt effect. An efficient control of the cargo transportation combined with remarkable 'healing' ability to surpass obstacles demonstrate a great potential towards development of multifunctional smart devices at the microscale.