Recent Progress of Artificial Cilia: From Bioinspired Design, Facile Fabrication to Practical Application

Yingbo Li; Ran Zhao; Jingxin Meng

doi:10.1002/cjoc.202401006

Chinese Journal of Chemistry ›› 2025, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (7) : 841 -854. DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.202401006

Critical Review

Recent Progress of Artificial Cilia: From Bioinspired Design, Facile Fabrication to Practical Application

Yingbo Li ¹^,²
, Ran Zhao ¹^,²
, Jingxin Meng ¹^,²^,^†

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Abstract

As well known, cilia play an irreplaceable role in sensing and movement of natural organisms because they can respond to external signals and generate net flow in complex environments. Based on these findings, scientists further explored the functions of natural cilia and have developed many artificial cilia in the past nearly thirty years. This review provides an overview of recent progress of artificial cilia. Firstly, we summarize the characteristics of natural cilia. Subsequently, we introduce the fabrication methods including template, magnetic assembly, lithography, and 3D printing. Then we discuss the stimulus actuation of artificial cilia from two major modes: contact control and remote control. In addition, five typical types of applications, including adhesion regulation, intelligent control, mobile microrobot, biological sensor and anti-counterfeiting, were reviewed in detail. Finally, we present the challenges and future development in the fields of advanced artificial cilia.

Keywords

Bioinspired / Artificial / Cilia / Actuation / Fabrication / Application

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Yingbo Li, Ran Zhao, Jingxin Meng. Recent Progress of Artificial Cilia: From Bioinspired Design, Facile Fabrication to Practical Application. Chinese Journal of Chemistry, 2025, 43(7): 841-854 DOI:10.1002/cjoc.202401006