Facing a critical freshwater shortage exacerbated by industrialization, population growth, and climate change, this proposal introduces a novel solution: self-propelled, programmable microand nanoscale robots for advanced water remediation. These microrobots aim to efficiently target and remove a wide range of pollutants, including nano-/microplastics and heavy metals, by overcoming traditional diffusion limits. The project will develop swarms of autonomous micromachines with tactic responses to external stimuli, capable of purifying water through coordinated actions. Inspired by nature’s biomachines and addressing propulsion challenges at micro/nanoscales, the research focuses on the fundamental aspects of microrobot propulsion, self-organization, and environmental interaction. By harnessing energy conversion and functional surface elements, these microrobots promise a groundbreaking approach to environmental protection and resource extraction, showcasing the potential for large-scale deployment and significant ecological impact as well as fundamental understanding to the behavior

Keywords
robotics; autonomous_machines; physical_machine_intelligence; environmental_remediation;

25-15484X

English

Pumera Martin, prof. RNDr., Ph.D. - principal person responsible

Future Energy and Innovation
- responsible department (25.3.2024 - not assigned)
Future Energy and Innovation
- beneficiary (25.3.2024 - not assigned)

KUMAR, S.; KALLESHAPPA, B.; PUMERA, M. Laser-induced enhancement for the detection of isopropyl alcohol in V₂CT_x MXene films. Applied Materials Today, 2026, vol. 49, no. April, 10 p.
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THEKKEDATH MADHU, N.; NATARAJAN, S.; PUMERA, M. Molecularly Engineered Fluorescent Magnetic Microrobots for Sensing High-Energy Nitroaromatic Explosives in Highly Acidic Aqueous Environments. Small, 2026, vol. 22, no. 5, 12 p.
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SONG, S.; KIM, J.; GABOR, R.; ZBOŘIL, R.; PUMERA, M. Magnetically Driven Living Microrobot Swarms for Aquatic Micro- and Nanoplastic Cleanup. ACS Nano, 2025, vol. 19, no. 30, p. 27259-27269. ISSN: 1936-086X.
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JANČÍK PROCHÁZKOVÁ, A.; MICHÁLKOVÁ, H.; ČÍHALOVÁ, K.; HEGER, Z.; PUMERA, M. Microrobots for Antibiotic-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Skin Colony Eradication. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2025, vol. 17, no. 27, p. 39340-39348. ISSN: 1944-8252.
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JYOTI, .; ARYA, S.; PENG, X.; PUMERA, M. Virus Enhanced Microrobots for Biofilm Eradication. ADVANCED MATERIALS, 2026, vol. 38, no. 2, 14 p.
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JYOTI, J.; MICHALEK, P.; HEGER, Z.; PUMERA, M. CRISPR/Cas9-Assisted Microrobots for Fast and Ultrasensitive "On-The-Fly" Next-Generation DNA Detection. Advanced functional materials, 2026, vol. 36, no. 14, p. 1-12.
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WU, X.; PENG, X.; REN, L.; GUAN, J.; PUMERA, M. Reconfigurable Self-Assembling Photocatalytic Magnetic Liquid Metal Microrobot Swarm for Microplastic Capture and Degradation. Small, 2025, vol. 38, no. 21, 8 p.
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DESHMUKH, S.; NOUSEEN, S.; PUMERA, M. Laser-Induced Microfabrication of Carbon Nanostructure: Processing Mechanism and Application for Next-Generation Battery Technology. Advanced functional materials, 2026, vol. 36, no. 19, 27 p.
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JU, X.; PALACKA, K.; VELLUVAKANDY, R.; MICHALIČKA, J.; PUMERA, M. Glucose-Powered Ultrasmall Chemotactic Nanorobots for Retinal Degeneration Treatment. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2025, vol. 147, no. 49, p. 45405-45422.
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Responsibility: Pumera Martin, prof. RNDr., Ph.D.