16.01.2025

Researchers at Caltech have developed bioresorbable microrobots designed to deliver drugs directly to targeted sites within the body. These microrobots, described in Science Robotics successfully reduced the size of bladder tumors in mice, paving the way for future applications in precision medicine.

Image: A detailed image of Caltech's bioresorbable acoustic hydrogel microrobots, which shows rows of structured spheres; Copyright: Hong Han

Scanning electron microscope image of bioresorbable acoustic hydrogel microrobots.

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Key features include:

Magnetic Navigation: Microrobots are embedded with magnetic nanoparticles, enabling researchers to guide them to specific locations using an external magnetic field.

Bubble-Based Propulsion: An air bubble trapped inside each microrobot vibrates under an ultrasound field, propelling the device and enhancing imaging capabilities.

Biocompatibility: Microrobots are bioresorbable, leaving no harmful residues in the body after delivering their therapeutic cargo.

Unique design for functionality

One of the standout innovations in this research was the microrobot's dual-surface property. While the exterior is hydrophilic to prevent clumping, the interior is hydrophobic to stabilize the air bubble. This dual modification ensures the microrobots function effectively in complex biofluids like blood or urine.

"This asymmetric surface modification, where the inside is hydrophobic and the outside is hydrophilic, really allows us to use many robots and still trap bubbles for a prolonged period of time in biofluids, such as urine or serum," says Wei Gao, professor of medical engineering at Caltech.