Abdon Pena-Francesch

Abdon Pena-Francesch


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

14Years (2013-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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10 November 2021 in Nature Reviews Materials
Verified
Journal Article
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MLMeng Li
Meng Li
APAniket Pal
Aniket Pal
AAAmirreza Aghakhani
Amirreza Aghakhani
APAbdon Pena-Francesch
Abdon Pena-Francesch
MSMetin Sitti
Metin Sitti

27 July 2020 in Nature Materials
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Journal Article
Closed access
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APAbdon Pena-Francesch
Abdon Pena-Francesch
HJHuihun Jung
Huihun Jung
MDMelik C. Demirel
Melik C. Demirel
MSMetin Sitti
Metin Sitti

20 June 2018 in Advanced Functional Materials
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
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MVMert Vural
Mert Vural
APAbdon Pena-Francesch
Abdon Pena-Francesch
JBJoan Bars‐Pomes
Joan Bars‐Pomes
HJHuihun Jung
Huihun Jung
HGHemanth Gudapati
Hemanth Gudapati
MDMelik C. Demirel
Melik C. Demirel

8 September 2013 in Nature Biotechnology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PGPaul A Guerette
Paul A Guerette
SHShawn Hoon
Shawn Hoon
YSYiqi Seow
Yiqi Seow
MRManfred Raida
Manfred Raida
AMAdmir Masic
Admir Masic
AMAli Miserez
Ali Miserez

30 August 2020 in Advanced Materials
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Journal Article
Open access
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PCPol Cabanach
Pol Cabanach
APAbdon Pena-Francesch
Abdon Pena-Francesch
DSDevin Sheehan
Devin Sheehan
UBUgur Bozuyuk
Ugur Bozuyuk
OYOncay Yasa
Oncay Yasa
MSMetin Sitti
Metin Sitti
Microrobots offer transformative solutions for non‐invasive medical interventions due to their small size and untethered operation inside the human body. However, they must face the immune system as a natural protection mechanism against foreign threats. Here, non‐immunogenic stealth zwitterionic microrobots that avoid recognition from immune cells are introduced. Fully zwitterionic photoresists are developed for two‐photon polymerization 3D microprinting of hydrogel microrobots with ample functionalization: tunable mechanical properties, anti‐biofouling and non‐immunogenic properties, functionalization for magnetic actuation, encapsulation of biomolecules, and surface functionalization for drug delivery. Stealth microrobots avoid detection by macrophage cells of the innate immune system after exhaustive inspection (>90 hours), which has not been achieved in any microrobotic platform to date. These versatile zwitterionic materials eliminate a major roadblock in the development of biocompatible microrobots, and will serve as a toolbox of non‐immunogenic materials for medical microrobot and other device technologies for bioengineering and biomedical applications.

11 March 2022 in Science Advances
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
AAAmirreza Aghakhani
Amirreza Aghakhani
APAbdon Pena-Francesch
Abdon Pena-Francesch
UBUgur Bozuyuk
Ugur Bozuyuk
HCHakan Cetin
Hakan Cetin
PWPaul Wrede
Paul Wrede
MSMetin Sitti
Metin Sitti
Untethered microrobots offer a great promise for localized targeted therapy in hard-to-access spaces in our body. Despite recent advancements, most microrobot propulsion capabilities have been limited to homogenous Newtonian fluids. However, the biological fluids present in our body are heterogeneous and have shear rate–dependent rheological properties, which limit the propulsion of microrobots using conventional designs and actuation methods. We propose an acoustically powered microrobotic system, consisting of a three-dimensionally printed 30-micrometer-diameter hollow body with an oscillatory microbubble, to generate high shear rate fluidic flow for propulsion in complex biofluids. The acoustically induced microstreaming flow leads to distinct surface-slipping and puller-type propulsion modes in Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids, respectively. We demonstrate efficient propulsion of the microrobots in diverse biological fluids, including in vitro navigation through mucus layers on biologically relevant three-dimensional surfaces. The microrobot design and high shear rate propulsion mechanism discussed herein could open new possibilities to deploy microrobots in complex biofluids toward minimally invasive targeted therapy.