Photon-powered nanorobots can precisely steer, capture, and transport bacteria, opening new ways to manipulate microscopic environments and advancing tools for microbiology.

Roughly 50 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair, these tiny robots are expanding what scientists can do at extremely small scales. They bring researchers closer to directly interacting with the microscopic world—something long considered a major scientific goal.

Figure 1. Tiny Robots.

This capability is especially valuable for working with biological materials in liquids, such as individual cells or bacteria. Until now, controlling such tiny objects with precision has been difficult. These nanorobots demonstrate that tasks like collecting, moving, and repositioning bacteria can be carried out with accuracy. Figure 1 represents Tiny Robots.

One of the biggest challenges has been how to power and guide machines at such a small scale. A team at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU), led by Professor Bert Hecht, addressed this by harnessing the recoil force generated by individual photons to drive micrometer-sized devices known as microdrones.

Photon Recoil Drives Motion

Each microdrone contains up to four plasmonic nanoantennas that absorb light with specific characteristics and re-emit it in a controlled direction. Every emitted photon produces a minute recoil force—similar in principle to the backward kick of a fired bullet [1]. Because these devices have extremely low mass, even such tiny forces can propel them at high speeds with rapid acceleration.

In their latest work, the researchers reduced the robots to less than one micrometer in size. At the same time, they simplified how the robots are steered while still relying on photon-based propulsion.

The key lies in nanoscale antenna wires inside the robots, which naturally align with the polarization of incoming light. By adjusting that polarization, scientists can control the robots’ orientation, while motion continues to be driven by photon recoil—much like steering a vehicle while keeping it in motion.

Light-Guided Bacteria Capture

The nanorobots are highly agile, capable of executing sharp 90-degree turns. This allows them to scan large areas efficiently and systematically. They can selectively capture, transport, and release significant numbers of bacteria with precision.

This functionality effectively turns them into microscopic “cleaners,” able to gather bacteria and deposit them at chosen locations in controlled laboratory settings.

Toward Practical Applications

Even when carrying clusters of bacteria, the robots remain maneuverable, though their speed decreases slightly. This resilience highlights their potential for applications in microbiology, biomedical research, and other fields requiring precise manipulation at very small scales.

Beyond observation, this work shows how light can be used to actively shape and control the microscopic world—bringing the concept of tiny robotic cleaners from theory closer to reality.

References:

1. https://scitechdaily.com/these-tiny-robots-50x-smaller-than-a-hair-can-hunt-and-move-bacteria/

Cite this article:

Keerthana S (2026), Tiny Robots, 50 Times Thinner Than a Hair, Can Track and Move Bacteria, AnaTechMaz, pp.365