SRL has developed a biologically-inspired microrobot which resemble swimming sperm cells.

The design of this ‘MagnetoSperm’ has a head of magnetic material, and a flexible body which is about six times larger than that of a human sperm. The artificial semen can be employed to administer medicine and may be used during in vitro fertilization.

The work done by SRL members Islam Khalil (post-doctoral fellow) and Herman Dijkslag (bachelor’s student), and in collaboration with Leon Abelmann. It was published in journal Applied Physics Letters.

This work received world-wide media attention (more than 400 online releases). See some of the press releases:

• Here Come the “Brobots” (AIP press release)
• Engineers control ‘robotic sperm’ with magnets (BBC News)
• MagnetoSperm: A tiny swimming robot inspired by human sperm (LA Times)
• Nanorobotjes niet van sperma te onderscheiden (de Volkskrant)