Microscale Robotics Lab

🔸CELLOIDS UPDATE #1🔸   The #CELLOIDS PROJECT aims at realizing cell-inspired #microrobots that can move inside soft tissues.
Our microrobots will have four features. @ScuolaSantAnna @ERC_Research 🇪🇺 GA:948590 (1/2)👇

We had the pleasure of hosting Dr. @ContiniClau (@imperialcollege) last week for a fascinating seminar on artificial cells with a focus on how soft matter can lead to cell-like behaviour. Thank you for visiting! See you soon✨

🎓✨On February 6, 2026, I defended my PhD thesis, closing an intense and deeply formative journey. Grateful to my supervisor, Prof. @StefanoPalagi, my co-supervisors Dario Cecchi and @GaiaPetrucci1, and the @MicroRobotLab for their support along the way.

Her current research focuses on developing tumor-like tissues to test the infiltration capabilities of ultra-deformable magnetic microrobots for localized anti-cancer therapy delivery💊👩‍🔬 (2/2)🔚

👩‍🔬🧑‍🔬MEET OUR TEAM🎉 Chiara Catania holds a Master’s degree in Bioengineering from @unipd, specializing in #biomaterials and #tissueengineering, and has worked as a research fellow at @cafoscari on #biosensors for molecular diagnostics. (1/2)👇 #softinvaders #microrobotics

SOFTINVADERS is the new project carried on at our lab✨ 🇪🇺 Funded by @ERC_Research (GA 101213190), it officially started in October 2025 and will end in March 2027. It aims at further develop celloid micrororobots so that they can penetrate solid tumors. Stay tuned for more!

We’re heading to #FocusLive in Milan at Leonardo da Vinci museum of science and technology 🔭 Come find us at our stand ❤️🔬🤖 @Focus_it @SantAnnaPisa #scicomm #focuslive2025 #science #research #microrobots

🚨Publication alert!👇 If you’re exploring the #droplettransfermethod for the first time to fabricate your #GUVs, or if you’re curious to learn more about this technique, check out our new article just published on @JoVEJournal. 🔗 jove.com/v/68340/using-…

Last week marked the 21st Conference on Complex Systems! 🚀 Our postdoc @jyoti_physics had the opportunity to share heed work on harnessing swarm behaviors of active particles to build intelligent microrobots 🔬🤖 #CCS2025 #microrobots #microrobotics #biorobotics

Check out our last publication❕ We investigated how cholesterol, influences GUVs produced via the widely used droplet transfer method with the phospholipid DOPC. 🔗 #referee-response-57440" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/5-77/… @A_Elien5 @cecchi_dario @StefanoPalagi @ERC_Research

Excited to share our new publication‼️ We developed a novel method to fabricate core-shell capsules with tunable shell thickness and semi-liquid core, designed as carrier systems. Check it out👇 🔗#referee-response-57059" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/3-191… #openscience #openresearcheurope #coreshell #celloid

We open our workshop titled “Biomimetic microrobots as microscale living machines” @SantAnnaPisa @StefanoPalagi @ERC_Research @MicroRobotLab #livingmachine

Let us meet in the Living machines 2025 edition and talk about microrobots!

Join us on July 15 for an afternoon packed with cutting-edge insights, innovation, and inspiration on Microscale robotics and living machines. Don’t miss out—connect, learn, and be part of the future! More information: sites.google.com/view/lm2025bio… #conference #AcademicTwitter #networking #STEM #Engineering #microrobots @MicroRobotLab @StefanoPalagi @jyoti_physics @ContiniClau @LauraAlvarez_F @IsabellaFiorel1 @Jones_Firefly @mssakar @SantAnnaPisa @ERC_Research @im_MHDA

He has joined the team to work on his thesis, focusing on the optimisation of liposomes production and their physical properties as drug delivery systems in the context of bioinspired #microrobots.   #team #science #scicomm #research #lab #microrobotics

🧑‍🔬🧑‍💻 MEET OUR TEAM 🎉👇 🤝Francesco Loiacono is a #physicsofmatter master's student at @Unipisa 🇮🇹 Having completed a Bachelor's degree in #Physics at @sapienzaroma, he is currently specializing in the #biosystems and #biomaterials field.

🚨Workshop Alert🚨 You still have time to submit your abstract ‼️ 🔗 sites.google.com/view/lm2025bio…

🚨 Workshop Alert! Join Dr. Omar Tricinci, Dr. @jyoti_physics & @yashpalsbrar on July 15 at #LivingMachines2025 (Sheffield, UK) for: “Biomimetic Microrobots as Microscale Living Machines” 🔬🤖 🌟 Submit your abstract by June 10! Details & schedule: sites.google.com/view/lm2025bio…

This week, we’re attending the #CECAM conference -Crystallization and Self-Assembly: from Soft Matter to Pharmaceuticals to Biomineratlisationin-in Roscoff, France. @yashpalsbrar will present his poster on a method for monolayer formation used in #Janusparticle fabrication🔬

Today, we had the pleasure of hosting @alf_fonsi, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, for a talk on reconstituting the #cytoskeleton in vitro to uncover the principles of its self-organization. It was a pleasure to host him and exchange research ideas💡

"If you're working non-stop all the time you will burn out." How do you keep a healthy work-life balance as a scientist? Hear 2009 chemistry laureate Venki Ramakrishnan share his best advice on how to achieve a good work-life balance. #NobelPrize