Engineering microalgae-based biohybrid robots for biomedical applications

Yanan Che; Xin Song; Li Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.celbio.2025.100103

Engineering microalgae-based biohybrid robots for biomedical applications

Yanan Che
, Xin Song^*
, Li Zhang^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Biomedical Engineering

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

62 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars)

Abstract

Microalgae are unicellular microorganisms with rapid growth, versatile surface chemistry, and unique cellular structures, making them highly suitable for large-scale production and functionalization. These distinct properties make microalgae attractive candidates as natural components for designing biohybrid microrobotic systems. This review summarizes recent advancements made in microalgae-based hybrid robots. First, we introduce the natural properties of microalgae, including their cellular structures, bioactive compound production, photosynthetic oxygen generation, light-responsive behaviors such as phototaxis and light-induced deformation, and biocompatibility. Then, we discuss their actuation and enhanced performance for adaptability in biomedical applications via engineering. Finally, we focus on their biomedical applications while highlighting future opportunities and challenges that must be addressed for successful clinical translation. © 2025 The Authors.

Original language	English
Article number	100103
Journal	Cell Biomaterials
Volume	1
Issue number	8
Online published	11 Jun 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celbio.2025.100103
Publication status	Published - 23 Sept 2025

Funding

This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China with grant no. 2023YFB4705600; the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) with project nos. STG1/E-401/23-N, RFS2122-4S03, R4015-21, C4038-24G, 14300621, and 14301122; and CityU Startup Grant with grant no. 9610728. We also thank the support from Multi-scale Medical Robotics Centre (MRC) and InnoHK at the Hong Kong Science Park.

Research Keywords

microalgae-based microrobots
biohybrid robots
micro/nanorobotics
biological motors
biomedical applications

Publisher's Copyright Statement

This full text is made available under CC-BY 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

RGC Funding Information

RGC-funded

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10.1016/j.celbio.2025.100103

304108136.pdfFinal Published version, 5.53 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

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title = "Engineering microalgae-based biohybrid robots for biomedical applications",

abstract = "Microalgae are unicellular microorganisms with rapid growth, versatile surface chemistry, and unique cellular structures, making them highly suitable for large-scale production and functionalization. These distinct properties make microalgae attractive candidates as natural components for designing biohybrid microrobotic systems. This review summarizes recent advancements made in microalgae-based hybrid robots. First, we introduce the natural properties of microalgae, including their cellular structures, bioactive compound production, photosynthetic oxygen generation, light-responsive behaviors such as phototaxis and light-induced deformation, and biocompatibility. Then, we discuss their actuation and enhanced performance for adaptability in biomedical applications via engineering. Finally, we focus on their biomedical applications while highlighting future opportunities and challenges that must be addressed for successful clinical translation. {\textcopyright} 2025 The Authors.",

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language = "English",

volume = "1",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Engineering microalgae-based biohybrid robots for biomedical applications

AU - Che, Yanan

AU - Song, Xin

AU - Zhang, Li

PY - 2025/9/23

Y1 - 2025/9/23

N2 - Microalgae are unicellular microorganisms with rapid growth, versatile surface chemistry, and unique cellular structures, making them highly suitable for large-scale production and functionalization. These distinct properties make microalgae attractive candidates as natural components for designing biohybrid microrobotic systems. This review summarizes recent advancements made in microalgae-based hybrid robots. First, we introduce the natural properties of microalgae, including their cellular structures, bioactive compound production, photosynthetic oxygen generation, light-responsive behaviors such as phototaxis and light-induced deformation, and biocompatibility. Then, we discuss their actuation and enhanced performance for adaptability in biomedical applications via engineering. Finally, we focus on their biomedical applications while highlighting future opportunities and challenges that must be addressed for successful clinical translation. © 2025 The Authors.

AB - Microalgae are unicellular microorganisms with rapid growth, versatile surface chemistry, and unique cellular structures, making them highly suitable for large-scale production and functionalization. These distinct properties make microalgae attractive candidates as natural components for designing biohybrid microrobotic systems. This review summarizes recent advancements made in microalgae-based hybrid robots. First, we introduce the natural properties of microalgae, including their cellular structures, bioactive compound production, photosynthetic oxygen generation, light-responsive behaviors such as phototaxis and light-induced deformation, and biocompatibility. Then, we discuss their actuation and enhanced performance for adaptability in biomedical applications via engineering. Finally, we focus on their biomedical applications while highlighting future opportunities and challenges that must be addressed for successful clinical translation. © 2025 The Authors.

KW - microalgae-based microrobots

KW - biohybrid robots

KW - micro/nanorobotics

KW - biological motors

KW - biomedical applications

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105016349197

UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105016349197&origin=recordpage

U2 - 10.1016/j.celbio.2025.100103

DO - 10.1016/j.celbio.2025.100103

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 3050-5623

VL - 1

JO - Cell Biomaterials

JF - Cell Biomaterials

IS - 8

M1 - 100103

ER -

Engineering microalgae-based biohybrid robots for biomedical applications

Abstract

Funding

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

RGC Funding Information

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STG-ExtU-Lead: AI-assisted Microrobotic Platform for Minimally Invasive Interventions

RIF-ExtU-Lead: A Microrobotic Platform with Swarming Magnetic Microgels for Endovascular Embolization

Cite this

Engineering microalgae-based biohybrid robots for biomedical applications

Abstract

Funding

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

RGC Funding Information

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

Fingerprint

Projects

STG-ExtU-Lead: AI-assisted Microrobotic Platform for Minimally Invasive Interventions

RIF-ExtU-Lead: A Microrobotic Platform with Swarming Magnetic Microgels for Endovascular Embolization

Cite this