Modular Interfacial Microswimmers

The transport of microscale matter suspended in a viscous fluid under confined conditions is essential in a wide range of fields and applications, including drug delivery and the study of dynamic self-assembly and constrained dynamics. Designing sophisticated, modular swimmers with different functional units and cooperative dynamic responses enables more complex tasks. In this work, dynamic self-assemblies exploring different transport mechanisms are guided with high maneuverability along a fluid interface. These magnetic micromotors, which do $n\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}o\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}t$ swim via capillary or Marangoni effects, could be used for precise, targeted interfacial transport of drugs under biological conditions.