skip to main content
US FlagAn official website of the United States government
dot gov icon
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
https lock icon
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Explore Research Products in the PAR
It may take a few hours for recently added research products to appear in PAR search results.


Title: Microrobots for Biomedicine: Unsolved Challenges and Opportunities for Translation
Microrobots are being explored for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery, biological cargo transport, and minimally invasive surgery. However, current efforts largely focus on proof-of-concept studies with nontranslatable materials through a "design-and-apply" approach, limiting the potential for clinical adaptation. While these proof-of-concept studies have been key to advancing microrobot technologies, we believe that the distinguishing capabilities of microrobots will be most readily brought to patient bedsides through a "design-by-problem" approach, which involves focusing on unsolved problems to inform the design of microrobots with practical capabilities. As outlined below, we propose that the clinical translation of microrobots will be accelerated by a judicious choice of target applications, improved delivery considerations, and the rational selection of translation-ready biomaterials, ultimately reducing patient burden and enhancing the efficacy of therapeutic drugs for difficult-to-treat diseases.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2143419
PAR ID:
10502573
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
ACS Nano
Date Published:
Journal Name:
ACS Nano
Volume:
17
Issue:
15
ISSN:
1936-0851
Page Range / eLocation ID:
14196 to 14204
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; et al (, Advanced Materials)
    Abstract Microrobots hold immense potential in biomedical applications, including drug delivery, disease diagnostics, and minimally invasive surgeries. However, two key challenges hinder their clinical translation: achieving scalable and precision fabrication, and enabling non‐invasive imaging and tracking within deep biological tissues. Magnetic particle imaging (MPI), a cutting‐edge imaging modality, addresses these challenges by detecting the magnetization of nanoparticles and visualizing superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPIONs) with sub‐millimeter resolution, free from interference by biological tissues. This capability makes MPI an ideal tool for tracking magnetic microrobots in deep tissue environments. In this study, “TriMag” microrobots are introduced: 3D‐printed microrobots with three integrated magnetic functionalities—magnetic actuation, magnetic particle imaging, and magnetic hyperthermia. The TriMag microrobots are fabricated using an innovative method that combines two‐photon lithography for 3D printing biocompatible hydrogel structures with in situ chemical reactions to embed the hydrogel scaffold with Fe3O4nanoparticles for good MPI contrast and CoFe2O4nanoparticles for efficient magnetothermal heating. This approach enables scalable, precise fabrication of helical magnetic hydrogel microrobots. The resulting TriMag microrobots, with the synergistic effects of Fe3O4and CoFe2O4nanoparticles, demonstrate efficient magnetic actuation for controlled movement, precise imaging via MPI for imaging and tracking in biological fluid and organs, including porcine eye and mouse stomach, and magnetothermal heating for tumor ablation in a mouse model. By combining these capabilities, the fabrication and imaging approach provides a robust platform for non‐invasive monitoring and manipulation of microrobots for transformative applications in medical treatment and biological research. 
    more » « less
  2. ; ; ; ; ; ; (, Advanced Materials)
    Abstract There has been considerable interest in developing synthetic micromotors with biofunctional, versatile, and adaptive capabilities for biomedical applications. In this perspective, cell membrane‐functionalized micromotors emerge as an attractive platform. This new class of micromotors demonstrates enhanced propulsion and compelling performance in complex biological environments, making them suitable for various in vivo applications, including drug delivery, detoxification, immune modulation, and phototherapy. This article reviews various proof‐of‐concept studies based on different micromotor designs and cell membrane coatings in these areas. The review focuses on the motor structure and performance relationship and highlights how cell membrane functionalization overcomes the obstacles faced by traditional synthetic micromotors while imparting them with unique capabilities. Overall, the cell membrane‐functionalized micromotors are expected to advance micromotor research and facilitate its translation towards practical uses. 
    more » « less
  3. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; et al (, Micromachines)
    Soft, untethered microrobots composed of biocompatible materials for completing micromanipulation and drug delivery tasks in lab-on-a-chip and medical scenarios are currently being developed. Alginate holds significant potential in medical microrobotics due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and drug encapsulation capabilities. Here, we describe the synthesis of MANiACs—Magnetically Aligned Nanorods in Alginate Capsules—for use as untethered microrobotic surface tumblers, demonstrating magnetically guided lateral tumbling via rotating magnetic fields. MANiAC translation is demonstrated on tissue surfaces as well as inclined slopes. These alginate microrobots are capable of manipulating objects over millimeter-scale distances. Finally, we demonstrate payload release capabilities of MANiACs during translational tumbling motion. 
    more » « less
  4. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; et al (, Bioengineering)
    Foundation Models (FMs) are gaining increasing attention in the biomedical artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem due to their ability to represent and contextualize multimodal biomedical data. These capabilities make FMs a valuable tool for a variety of tasks, including biomedical reasoning, hypothesis generation, and interpreting complex imaging data. In this review paper, we address the unique challenges associated with establishing an ethical and trustworthy biomedical AI ecosystem, with a particular focus on the development of FMs and their downstream applications. We explore strategies that can be implemented throughout the biomedical AI pipeline to effectively tackle these challenges, ensuring that these FMs are translated responsibly into clinical and translational settings. Additionally, we emphasize the importance of key stewardship and co-design principles that not only ensure robust regulation but also guarantee that the interests of all stakeholders—especially those involved in or affected by these clinical and translational applications—are adequately represented. We aim to empower the biomedical AI community to harness these models responsibly and effectively. As we navigate this exciting frontier, our collective commitment to ethical stewardship, co-design, and responsible translation will be instrumental in ensuring that the evolution of FMs truly enhances patient care and medical decision-making, ultimately leading to a more equitable and trustworthy biomedical AI ecosystem. 
    more » « less
  5. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; et al (, Frontiers in Robotics and AI)
    null (Ed.)
    Small soft robotic systems are being explored for myriad applications in medicine. Specifically, magnetically actuated microrobots capable of remote manipulation hold significant potential for the targeted delivery of therapeutics and biologicals. Much of previous efforts on microrobotics have been dedicated to locomotion in aqueous environments and hard surfaces. However, our human bodies are made of dense biological tissues, requiring researchers to develop new microrobotics that can locomote atop tissue surfaces. Tumbling microrobots are a sub-category of these devices capable of walking on surfaces guided by rotating magnetic fields. Using microrobots to deliver payloads to specific regions of sensitive tissues is a primary goal of medical microrobots. Central nervous system (CNS) tissues are a prime candidate given their delicate structure and highly region-specific function. Here we demonstrate surface walking of soft alginate capsules capable of moving on top of a rat cortex and mouse spinal cord ex vivo , demonstrating multi-location small molecule delivery to up to six different locations on each type of tissue with high spatial specificity. The softness of alginate gel prevents injuries that may arise from friction with CNS tissues during millirobot locomotion. Development of this technology may be useful in clinical and preclinical applications such as drug delivery, neural stimulation, and diagnostic imaging. 
    more » « less
  • Citation Formats
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago
  • BibTeX
  • Save / Share this Record
  • Send to Email