Emergent propagation modes of ferromagnetic swimmers in constrained geometries
Bryan, MT; Shelley, SR; Parish, MJ; et al.Petrov, PG; Winlove, CP; Gilbert, AD; Ogrin, FY
Date: 21 February 2017
Journal
Journal of Applied Physics
Publisher
AIP Publishing
Publisher DOI
Abstract
Magnetic microswimmers, composed of hard and soft ferromagnets connected by an elastic spring, are modelled under low Reynolds number conditions in the presence of geometrical boundaries. Approaching a surface, the magneto-elastic swimmer's velocity increases and its trajectory bends parallel to the surface contour. Further confinement ...
Magnetic microswimmers, composed of hard and soft ferromagnets connected by an elastic spring, are modelled under low Reynolds number conditions in the presence of geometrical boundaries. Approaching a surface, the magneto-elastic swimmer's velocity increases and its trajectory bends parallel to the surface contour. Further confinement to form a planar channel generates new propagation modes as the channel width narrows, altering the magneto-elastic swimmer's speed, orientation, and direction of travel. Our results demonstrate that constricted geometric environments, such as occuring in microfluidic channels or blood vessels, may influence the functionality of magneto-elastic microswimmers for applications such as drug delivery.
Physics and Astronomy
Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy
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