A shapeshifting robotic microswarm could one day act as an all-in-one toothbrush, rinse and dental floss solution.
The technology, developed by a multidisciplinary team at the University of Pennsylvania, could potentially offer a new and automated way to perform the mundane but critical daily tasks of brushing and flossing. The system that could be particularly valuable for those who lack the manual dexterity to clean their teeth effectively themselves.
The building blocks of the microrobots are iron oxide nanoparticles that have both catalytic and magnetic activity. Using a magnetic field, researchers could direct their motion and configuration to form either bristle-like structures that sweep away dental plaque from the broad surfaces of teeth, or elongated strings that can slip between teeth like a length of floss. In both instances, a catalytic reaction drives the nanoparticles to produce antimicrobials that kill harmful oral bacteria on site.
Experiments...