Synergy of robotics and microfluidics for intelligent micro- and nanomanipulation

Abstract

Micro- and nanomanipulation technology has found important applications in the fields of chemistry, materials, biology, and medicine. However, traditional manual techniques, constrained by the small size and fragile nature of target samples, often lack accuracy, efficiency, and throughput. Microfluidics has become a promising tool for handling micro- and nanoscale samples, addressing the above limitations. In particular, a growing number of innovations at the intersection of robotics and microfluidics have been proposed, showcasing the incredible potential in synergizing robotics and microfluidics technologies to develop fully automated and accurate systems for versatile micro- and nanomanipulation. In this Perspective, we discuss the ongoing research and development of robotics-enhanced microfluidics for micro- and nanomanipulation. We outline the key roles of major robotics technologies such as sensing, control, and artificial intelligence (AI) in microfluidic manipulation. We also propose the future directions of AI agents in microfluidic manipulation, aiming to achieve intelligent decision-making and execution across different manipulation tasks.