Chinese researchers turn optical fibers into 'mini dexterous hands' 18.06.2026

Researchers from Anhui University and the University of Science and Technology of China have engineered a groundbreaking fiber-optic microgripper, detailed in a study published in Nature. This innovation repurposes optical fibers, thinner than a human hair, into highly adaptable "mini dexterous hands" capable of manipulating objects at the cellular scale. The three-dimensional gripper can precisely control the opening, closing, and gripping force by adjusting light input. This technology has demonstrated the ability to handle opaque particles, irregular micro-components, and various single-cell types, generating forces over 100,000 times stronger than traditional optical tweezers. The development holds significant promise for advancing high-precision manipulation, microstructure assembly, microscale sampling, and applications in life sciences, healthcare, and minimally invasive medicine.















