A team of researchers from University of California, San Diego and Harbin Institute of Technology in China have developed nanoscale devices that are powered by a magnetic field and swim like fish. The nanofish, which are only 200 nm in length, are made of strips of nanowires. The front and rear are made of gold nanowire sections, while the middle consists of nickel. The sections are linked by silver hinges, giving the device the ability to flex like a fish.
When these nanofish are exposed to a rapidly changing magnetic field, their bodies begin to wobble, generating waves within their liquid environment. This lets the nanofish get up to speeds of 30 μm per second and points to the potential of using this technology to have devices travel through the body, deliver medication or perform a procedure in an extremely invasive fashion.
Study in journal Small: Magnetically Propelled Fish-Like Nanoswimmers…