Carmela De Marco
Papers
11
Total Citations
1,370
H-Index
9
About
Carmela De Marco is a leading figure in small-scale robotics and advanced manufacturing, whose work bridges the gap between soft robotics, smart materials, and biomedical devices. Her research focuses on developing programmable micro- and nanorobots, with key contributions in magnetic cilia carpets, 4D printing, and variable stiffness catheters. Her most cited paper, "Magnetic cilia carpets with programmable metachronal waves" (327 citations), demonstrates how biomimetic metachronal waves can be engineered for efficient transport at small scales—a breakthrough with implications for lab-on-a-chip and targeted delivery. She also pioneered the use of metal-organic frameworks in microrobots (MOFBOTS, 222 citations) and introduced sugar-based transient robots (CANDYBOTS) for biodegradable, biocompatible applications. Her work on 4D printing and shape-memory polymers has enabled the creation of submillimeter variable stiffness catheters for minimally invasive surgery (111 and 104 citations). With over 1,300 total citations, De Marco’s innovations in multi-material micromachines and indirect 3D printing are shaping the future of soft, adaptive, and transient robotic systems, making her a pivotal voice in the next generation of intelligent microdevices.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Magnetic cilia carpets with programmable metachronal waves327 citations · 2020
- 2Small‐Scale Machines Driven by External Power Sources264 citations · 2018
- 3MOFBOTS: Metal–Organic‐Framework‐Based Biomedical Microrobots222 citations · 2019
- 4Indirect 3D and 4D Printing of Soft Robotic Microstructures121 citations · 2019
- 5Thermoset Shape Memory Polymer Variable Stiffness 4D Robotic Catheters111 citations · 2021
- 6A Submillimeter Continuous Variable Stiffness Catheter for Compliance Control104 citations · 2021
- 74D printing and robotics92 citations · 2018
- 8Mechanically interlocked 3D multi-material micromachines71 citations · 2020
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