GREENS GREENS: A Training Programme on 5R's implementation in the design, manufacturing and application of micro and nanorobotic platforms

Summary

Micro- and nanoscale robotic platforms have captured the attention of researchers due to their remarkable ability to perform tailored tasks with unparalleled precision and minimal invasiveness. These robots hold great promise, with the potential to revolutionize fields ranging from biomedicine to environmental applications. From catalytic to externally actuated robots (i.e., magnetic, light), these robots offer the possibility of targeted drug delivery and enhanced reactivity due to their autonomous motion. Moreover, the recent interest in the collective behavior of micro- and nanorobots as swarms has gone hand-in-hand with the implementation of degradable materials to ensure its later removal from the body. Currently, the main focus in the field relies on the design, fabrication, and implementation of such robots, with special emphasis on achieving proper delivery, manipulation and final automation of large quantities of them. In addition, it is also important to explore cost-efficient and mass-production fabrication techniques to ensure that micro- and nanorobots can be manufactured and deployed at scale. However, one aspect that has not received enough attention is the waste management cycle associated with the fabrication and use of these robots. In the GREENS project, we aim to implement for the first time the 5R (Reduce, Recycle, Rethink, Repair, and Reuse) principle from the manufacturing to the final implementation and removal of nano/micro robotic platforms, always accounting for the sustainability of the overall process to minimize the impact of fabricating/applying them to the environment. This initiative is aligned with the sustainable development goals established by the European Comission (EC), and is of great importance to the Environmental Action Program from the EC.

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