fig1

Figure 1. Design, fabrication, and working principle of the MBF. (A) Schematic illustration of the MBF for catheter-free angioplasty; (B) The fabrication process of the MBF by integrating a magnetic tip, a phase-change balloon, and a PDMS fiber; (C) Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showing the cross-section of the balloon with multi-layers; (D) Schematic representation of the balloon expansion mechanism by the liquid-to-gas phase change upon microwave heating; (E) The optical and infrared images demonstrate the balloon expansion when placed at D = 15 cm from a microwave irradiator. The inset shows the zoomed-in view of the balloon; (F) Comparison of heating efficiency, defined as the increased temperature normalized by the power ΔT / P, between RF heating and microwave heating. MBF: Magnetic balloon fiberbot; PDMS: polydimethylsiloxane; RF: radio frequency; MW: microwave; CNT: carbon nanotube.