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This editorial discusses the advancements in laser fabrication technologies and their diverse applications. The field of laser fabrication has evolved from basic light sources to sophisticated tools, such as ultrafast femtosecond lasers, which enable precise manufacturing. The editorial summarizes 14 papers that highlight the optimization of laser fabrication techniques, the processing of various materials, the fabrication of micro-/nanostructures, and customized applications. The articles cover topics such as optimizing laser parameters, improving material properties, creating micro- and nanostructures, and applications in ophthalmic surgery and anti-reflection surfaces. These advancements have the potential to address challenges in various industries and improve clinical outcomes. [Extracted from the article]

Switchable adhesion, a phenomenon characterized by the ability to transition between attachment and detachment states under external stimuli, has recently gained popularity in various advanced devices. The realization of the desired functionalities on such surfaces relies on intricate interfacial designs. A general understanding of the commonalities and distinctions among these designs can foster the development of refined switchable adhesion interfaces (SAIs). To address this, this review first examines adhesion interfaces by focusing on the fundamental interactions at the atomic/molecular level, adhesion models, and their correlation with the diverse forces/bonds that dominate the adhesion behaviors. The latest progress in SAIs based on various forces/bonds, including electrostatic force, van der Waals force, capillary force, chemical bond, and suction force, is then discussed with regard to their specific design strategies, such as structures, components, and triggers. Additionally, an extensive overview of the broad applications of SAIs in fields ranging from space to biomedicine is provided, along with an exploration of the prevailing challenges and potential opportunities. With the rapid progress that has been made in state‐of‐the‐art mechanisms and design strategies, SAIs are expected to undergo booming development in the foreseeable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic fiber robots have revealed great potential for future minimally invasive robotic surgery. However, with the miniaturization of fiber robots, the integration of functional microtools at the distal end becomes extremely challenging, since it requires assembling multifunctional structures on the curved surfaces of fiber ends, which typically have very small curvature radii. In this study, a submillimeter fiber robot with integrated micro‐manipulation tool at the distal end is reported using a "Swiss roll" assembly strategy. This approach enables the one‐step assembly of multiscale structures (mm‐µm) from a 2D film to a 3D tool on the curved surface of the fiber robot. The multiscale structure consists of a millimeter‐scale (mm) magnetic thin film with integrated micrometer‐scale (µm) feature structures, which is inspired from the cat tongue covered by numerous little papillae. The fiber robot can perform multiple functions including endovascular clot grabbing, liquid delivery, and sampling under the manipulation of the magnetic field. The strategy provides a universal protocol for integrating and assembling functional components at the distal end of fiber robots, contributing significantly to the functionalization and miniaturization of interventional medical robots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft robots controlled by different actuation schemes are flourishing owing to the continued development of smart materials. However, most of the existing actuators are powered by a single source with predetermined mechanical properties and motion characteristics. Speed, power, and efficiency of these actuators are thus far inferior to their conventional counter parts. How to preload or alter the internal energy distribution and trigger rapid kinetic energy release combined with re‐programmability is a challenge and corresponding solutions will extend the practical use of soft robotics. Herein, a hybrid magnetically and photothermally responsive actuator with high degrees of freedom by using a coupled‐field manipulation strategy is proposed. As a proof‐of‐concept, a crab robot (CraBot) that contains uniformly distributed superparamagnetic particles and localized light‐responsive joints is produced. The spatial magnetic field exerts force on the robot, leading to real‐time adjustment of energy distribution within the entire robot. Meanwhile, the focused light field enables selective deformation of specific joints, releasing the accumulated energy into kinetic energy of motion for quick actuation. The directional accumulation and addressable release of elastic energy enables the CraBot to walk efficiently with improved power and speed. Such a hybrid‐field manipulation strategy holds great promise for sophisticated actuation of soft robots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technology with microfluidics makes it possible to diagnose genetic disease through label-free on-chip DNA detection. However, open problems including the integration of SERS substrate with microfluidic devices, controllable trapping and releasing of target molecules are still challenging. Here we demonstrate a facile laser scribing method to fabricate silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and graphene oxide (GO) based biochips as a reusable SERS sensor for DNA detection. Programmable laser scribing of the AgNPs@GO composite film enables direct patterning of sensitive SERS channels that consist of graphene supported AgNPs by exfoliating the composites into hierarchical porous structures. Integrating the SERS-active patterns with a microfluidic chip forms a biochip for allowing SERS detection of DNA. The noncovalent interactions between DNA and graphene mediated controllable trapping and releasing of DNA sequences, enabling efficient on-chip SERS detection and the regeneration of the biochip. The simple, green and cost-effective fabrication of the SERS-active biochips reveals great potential for biomolecular sensing and genetic engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]