Speaker: Jin Gyun Lee, postdoctoral associate — Shields Research Group, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder

Seminar: Bio-Inspired Self-Propelling Microrobots for enhanced transport and drug delivery

Seminar Abstract
In nature, biological swimmers navigate complex environments using non-linear motions to enhance their motility.  Drawing inspiration from these microorganisms, self-propelling particles have emerged as synthetic analogs capable of replicating the navigational capabilities of natural swimmers. In this work, I present the capability of spherical colloids featuring low-symmetry metal patches to autonomously self-propel along 3D helical trajectories when remotely energized by an AC electric field. The adoption of helical motion is shown to enhance navigation through porous materials compared to linearly swimming particles, owing to its rotational component. Further, I will demonstrate the potential of self-propelling particles as a microscale medical device.  In this second line of work, I designed bell-shaped microparticles with external fins to swim with non-linear trajectories within the confines of a mouse bladder. Utilizing their fast speed and sharp fins, these bubble-based microrobots, equipped with encapsulated drugs, mechanically adhere to the bladder epithelium, withstanding the shear stresses associated with urination. Sustained drug release from the particles was shown to activate immune cells, surpassing the performance of free drug controls. This system offers a promising strategy for deploying microrobots to efficiently explore large volumes, securely attach to soft tissue boundaries, and administer drug therapies over extended periods, holding potential for addressing a wide range of diseases in remote regions of the body.

Biosketch
Jin Gyun Lee has been a postdoctoral associate in Prof. Wyatt Shields' group since July 2021. He obtained his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from North Carolina State University in 2015 and completed his PhD in chemical engineering at Louisiana State University under the guidance of Prof. Bhuvnesh Bharti in 2021. Upon the graduation, Jin was honored with the Distinguished Dissertation Award by the LSU Alumni Association, the highest recognition bestowed upon PhD graduates at the university. During his doctoral studies, Jin programmed complex trajectories for active particles, developed plant-based nanomaterials for spilled oil recovery and 3D printing, and investigated biomolecule adsorption on nanoparticles. In his current role with the Shields group, Jin's research focuses on the advancement of microrobots powered by external fields and biomimetic materials for biomedical applications.

Speaker: Jin Gyun Lee, postdoctoral associate — Shields Research Group, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder

Seminar: Bio-Inspired Self-Propelling Microrobots for enhanced transport and drug delivery

Seminar Abstract
In nature, biological swimmers navigate complex environments using non-linear motions to enhance their motility.  Drawing inspiration from these microorganisms, self-propelling particles have emerged as synthetic analogs capable of replicating the navigational capabilities of natural swimmers. In this work, I present the capability of spherical colloids featuring low-symmetry metal patches to autonomously self-propel along 3D helical trajectories when remotely energized by an AC electric field. The adoption of helical motion is shown to enhance navigation through porous materials compared to linearly swimming particles, owing to its rotational component. Further, I will demonstrate the potential of self-propelling particles as a microscale medical device.  In this second line of work, I designed bell-shaped microparticles with external fins to swim with non-linear trajectories within the confines of a mouse bladder. Utilizing their fast speed and sharp fins, these bubble-based microrobots, equipped with encapsulated drugs, mechanically adhere to the bladder epithelium, withstanding the shear stresses associated with urination. Sustained drug release from the particles was shown to activate immune cells, surpassing the performance of free drug controls. This system offers a promising strategy for deploying microrobots to efficiently explore large volumes, securely attach to soft tissue boundaries, and administer drug therapies over extended periods, holding potential for addressing a wide range of diseases in remote regions of the body.

Biosketch
Jin Gyun Lee has been a postdoctoral associate in Prof. Wyatt Shields' group since July 2021. He obtained his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from North Carolina State University in 2015 and completed his PhD in chemical engineering at Louisiana State University under the guidance of Prof. Bhuvnesh Bharti in 2021. Upon the graduation, Jin was honored with the Distinguished Dissertation Award by the LSU Alumni Association, the highest recognition bestowed upon PhD graduates at the university. During his doctoral studies, Jin programmed complex trajectories for active particles, developed plant-based nanomaterials for spilled oil recovery and 3D printing, and investigated biomolecule adsorption on nanoparticles. In his current role with the Shields group, Jin's research focuses on the advancement of microrobots powered by external fields and biomimetic materials for biomedical applications.