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| Microrobots can be transported and activated in a safe and controlled manner, marking a decisive step forward in the use of these technological devices in targeted medical treatments. Photo Credit: Courtesy of University of Barcelona |
The study, led by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) and published in the journal Science, involves Professor Josep Puigmartí-Luis from the Faculty of Chemistry and the Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry (IQTC) of the University of Barcelona. He is the only researcher from a Spanish institution to sign this paper, which is the result of the European ANGIE project, an initiative coordinated by Professor Salvador Pané (ETH) in collaboration with the Chemistry In Flow and Nanomaterials Synthesis (ChemInFlow) research group, led by Professor Puigmartí.
The new microrobotic platform presents an innovative strategy for administering drugs in a precise and targeted manner. It is scalable and can be applied to numerous situations in which the administration of therapeutic agents is difficult to access, such as tumors, arteriovenous malformations, localized infections, or tissue injuries.
Microrobots that deliver drugs in a targeted manner
The routes of administration of drugs into the body determine the intensity, duration and therapeutic effect of the drug. However, drugs with systemic action often cause serious side effects and are responsible for 30% of drug failures during clinical trials.
Magnetic micro- and nanorobots are technological devices with enormous potential for targeted drug delivery. They can incorporate higher concentrations of therapeutic agents that are delivered directly to critical sites, improving treatment efficacy, and minimizing side effects. However, translating this technology into clinical practice remains a scientific challenge.
The results of the new study demonstrate the ability of microrobots to navigate in vitro in human vasculature models and in vivo in animal models thanks to an innovation in microrobotics: the Navion system, which integrates navigation, therapeutic delivery and imaging into a unified platform.
“The Navion electromagnetic navigation system (eMNS) allows much more precise and safer electromagnetic control than systems with permanent magnets, as it allows magnetic fields to be modulated and stopped in real time. In addition, it is compatible with medical imaging techniques and has a modular design that facilitates its integration into minimally invasive clinical procedures,” says Puigmartí, professor at the UB’s Department of Materials Science and Physical Chemistry.
The new microrobotic drug delivery platform integrates a clinical electromagnetic navigation system, a custom-designed delivery catheter, and a dissolvable capsule for precise therapeutic delivery. Magnetically guided, it is capable of navigating precisely under physiological conditions.
Navion also allows for precise manipulation of magnetic catheters and endoscopes, which require great accuracy to avoid injury. Along these lines, the company Nanoflex Robotics, promoted with the support of ETH, markets its use through magnetic control technology with ultra-flexible devices, which allows for the treatment of critical endovascular pathologies, especially stroke, and the performance of teleoperated thrombectomies, reducing transfers and waiting times.
Overcoming obstacles to the clinical use of microrobots
Balancing the biocompatibility and biodegradability of materials with the specific characteristics of magnetic properties is one of the obstacles that must be overcome to use microrobotic technology in biomedicine.
“The new system overcomes major clinical barriers through precise and safe electromagnetic control that allows microrobots to navigate the body without direct contact. In addition, it uses biocompatible materials — approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — and real-time imaging, ensuring stable, safe and adaptable handling in real medical environments,” says Puigmartí.
In this context, the ChemInFlow research group at the UB has contributed to manufacturing capsules used as microrobots and to the study of blood coagulation, both through the use of microfluidic devices. These devices are at the heart of the study, which focuses on the synthesis of materials and the performance of chemical reactions in microfluidic devices.
Although further research is still needed to fully translate this technology into clinical practice, “the results provide a robust framework for addressing the
Published in journal: Science
Title: Clinically ready magnetic microrobots for targeted therapies
Authors: Fabian C. Landers, Lukas Hertle, Vitaly Pustovalov, Derick Sivakumaran, Cagatay M. Oral, Oliver Brinkmann, Kirstin Meiners, Pascal Theiler, Valentin Gantenbein, Andrea Veciana, Michael Mattmann, Silas Riss, Simone Gervasoni, Christophe Chautems, Hao Ye, Semih Sevim, Andreas D. Flouris, Josep Puigmartí-Luis, Tiago Sotto Mayor, Pedro Alves, Tessa Lühmann, Xiangzhong Chen, Nicole Ochsenbein, Ueli Moehrlen, Tilman Schubert, Zsolt Kulcsar, Philipp Gruber, Miriam Weisskopf, Quentin Boehler, Salvador Pané, and Bradley J. Nelson
Source/Credit: University of Barcelona
Reference Number: ms111425_01
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