New Method Embeds Independent Magnetic Movement at the Microscale

• Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a fabrication method for soft magnetic hydrogels that can be 3D printed into structures smaller than 1mm and activated remotely by an ordinary magnet. According to the research paper published in Matter, the study also saw contributions from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the…

Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a fabrication method for soft magnetic hydrogels that can be 3D printed into structures smaller than 1mm and activated remotely by an ordinary magnet. According to the research paper published in Matter, the study also saw contributions from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the University of Cincinnati. The core technical problem the team solved is one that has blocked this line of research for years. Standard microstructure fabrication relies on two-photon polymerization (2PP). When researchers have tried to load that resin with magnetic nanoparticles beforehand, the metal particles scatter or absorb the laser light, weakening the final structure or preventing it from forming altogether. The MI