Light‐driven Nano­‐robotics - Invited Plenary Presentation, IEEE NANO 2016.

The synergy between nanotech, biotech and optics is spawning the emerging field of nanobiophotonics.Optics already hurdle the diffraction barrier for imaging with nanoscopic resolutions as celebrated by the Nobel Prize 2014 in Chemistry. However, scientifi c hypothesis testing demands tools, not only for observing nanoscopic phenomena, but also for reaching into and handling constituents in this size domain. Featured in Nature Photonics this author previously promoted the idea of fabricating a new class of Shape Optimized light robotic structures via two-photon polymerization (2PP) and pioneering their use in so-called lightdriven nano-robotics. Hence, the aim of our latest R&D is to combine advanced topology optimisation, 3D printing of functionalized materials and light manipulation to demonstrate a structure-mediated micro-tonano coupling paradigm for controlled operation of robotic tools overcoming the diffraction limit while still being optically visible and manoeuvrable. 2PP-fabrication can already today create intricate nano-features merged onto larger microstructures that, in turn, are steerable by dynamic light beams. Applying multiple independently controllable laser beam traps on these structures will enable real-time light-driven nanorobotics with six-degrees-of-freedom. This sets the stage for new discoveries using calibrated steering of optimally shaped and functionalized nano-tools at the subcellular level and in full 3D - not available in the scientifi c world as of today.