Review
Automation & Control Systems
Yan Deng, Yue Zhao, Jianguo Zhang, Tatsuo Arai, Qiang Huang, Xiaoming Liu
Summary: Magnetic microrobots have attracted significant attention in the biomedical field due to their wireless actuation, strong controllability, fast response, and minimal environmental impact. Microassembly, a fabrication method that creates complex structures with small-scale modules, allows for precise control over the position and orientation of each magnetic module, enabling the creation of magnetic microrobots with arbitrary 3D geometries and magnetization profiles. This review summarizes recent advanced assembly-based fabrication methods for magnetic microrobots, including contact mechanical and noncontact field forces. The principles, fabrication processes, advantages, and disadvantages of each assembly-based method are discussed, along with the existing challenges and future development of magnetic microrobot fabrication by assembly. It is expected that this review will serve as a methodological reference and inspire new ideas for the manufacturing of powerful magnetic microrobots in future biomedical applications.
ADVANCED INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Armando Ramos-Sebastian, So-Jung Gwak, Sung Hoon Kim
Summary: Magnetic microrobots are highly promising for biomedical applications, but magnetic actuation alone is not enough. This study introduces a multimodal electromagnetic system that enables various modes of locomotion and heating control of magnetic microrobots, as well as the manipulation of magnetic nanoparticles.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yun Wang, Jie Shen, Stephan Handschuh-Wang, Ming Qiu, Shiwei Du, Ben Wang
Summary: Untethered miniature robots have shown great potential for targeted delivery and therapy inside the gastrointestinal tract. They can be controlled externally and utilize the local environment for therapeutic purposes. Compared to conventional surgical tools, these robots offer minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment, multifunctionality, and easy access to narrow lumens. The active motion of microrobots also improves drug penetration and retention in tissues. This review discusses the advances in miniature robots for minimally invasive targeted delivery and therapy, including the imaging modalities used for tracking, and highlights the challenges and future research directions in this field.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Zhi Chen, Xiaoxia Song, Xueliang Mu, Junkai Zhang, U. Kei Cheang
Summary: Cell delivery using magnetic microswimmers is a promising tool for targeted therapy. This study presents the fabrication of rapid and uniform manufactur-able 2D magnetic achiral microswimmers with pores for delivering bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) to regenerate articular-damaged cartilage. The microswimmers exhibit rolling or swimming motions under magnetic fields and demonstrate biocompatibility and long-distance targeting capabilities.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuxin Gao, Yuan Guo, Yaorong Yang, Yanping Tang, Biao Wang, Qihang Yan, Xiyu Chen, Junxiang Cai, Li Fang, Ze Xiong, Fei Gao, Changjin Wu, Jizhuang Wang, Jinyao Tang, Lei Shi, Dan Li
Summary: Optically controlled neuromodulation is a promising approach for basic research and treatment of neurological diseases. In this study, a magnetically-manipulated optoelectronic hybrid microrobot (MOHR) is developed for precise non-genetic neuromodulation. The MOHR integrates magnetic components into the metal-insulator-semiconductor junction design, enabling excellent magnetic control and optoelectronic properties. The MOHR demonstrates various magnetic manipulation modes for accurate navigation in different biofluids. Through its photoelectric response to visible light, the MOHR achieves precise neuromodulation at the single-cell level. Moreover, the MOHR effectively restores neuronal activity in beta-amyloid-damaged neurons, highlighting its potential for therapeutic use. The hybrid microrobot system shows promise for targeted optical neuromodulation.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dong Liu, Dayin Sun, Jiaxin Zhou, Haoran Liu, Ruirui Guo, Bin Wang, Wenjun Ma, Zhenzhong Yang, Yuan Lu
Summary: This article introduces the potential of micro/nanorobots in biomedical applications and the current challenges they face. Inspired by the halfmoon betta fish, the researchers designed halfmoon Janus microrobots with stable directional motion. Through rational morphological design and an interface-free Janus preparation method, enhanced motion performance and programmable motion control were achieved. The microrobots were also used as active catalytic carriers for tumor-targeted propulsion and active tumor therapeutics.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kim Tien Nguyen, Gwangjun Go, Jin Zhen, Manh Cuong Hoang, Byungjeon Kang, Eunpyo Choi, Jong-Oh Park, Chang-Sei Kim
Summary: This study presents a method to control the motion of paramagnetic nanoclusters using rotating and gradient magnetic fields, showing significantly faster response and higher targeting rate. The enhanced tumbling motion achieved with this method has double the velocity of conventional tumbling and 130% higher than gradient pulling motion, indicating the potential for improved targeted drug delivery with MNRs.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Jongeon Park, Jin-young Kim, Salvador Pane, Bradley J. Nelson, Hongsoo Choi
Summary: This magnetically driven porous degradable microrobot (PDM) can be wirelessly actuated by rotating magnetic fields and has enhanced drug release and acoustically induced drug release capabilities. The PDM offers three different drug release modes that can be selected by ultrasound exposure conditions, and the in vitro test results show different therapeutic effects on cancer cells in each release mode.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhaoqing Cong, Songsong Tang, Leiming Xie, Ming Yang, Yangyang Li, Dongdong Lu, Jiahong Li, Qingxin Yang, Qiwei Chen, Zhiqiang Zhang, Xueji Zhang, Song Wu
Summary: A unique robotic medical platform is designed using cell robots as carriers to selectively bind and kill tumors with oncolytic adenovirus. The cell robots are modified and coated to enable specific targeting and movement within the body, resulting in enhanced efficacy in tumor treatment.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yangyang Li, Zhaoqing Cong, Leiming Xie, Songsong Tang, Chunyu Ren, Xiqi Peng, Daitian Tang, Fangchen Wan, Hong Han, Xueji Zhang, Wei Gao, Song Wu
Summary: A biogenic macrophage-based microrobot loaded with magnetic nanoparticles and bioengineered bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) is capable of magnetic propulsion, tumor targeting, and multimodal cancer therapy. This cell robot displays efficient magnetic propulsion and directional migration in confined spaces. In vivo tests show that the cell robot can accumulate at the tumor site and greatly improve the efficacy of its multimodal therapy, offering the potential for intelligent medical microrobots with remote manipulation and multifunctional therapy capabilities for practical precision treatment.
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Liuxi Xing, Dongfang Li, Hui Cao, Lei Fan, Liushuai Zheng, Li Zhang, Dong Sun
Summary: Using magnetically powered microagents for targeted therapy is a promising technology. This research proposes a new drive solution that generates a rotating gradient-based magnetic field to precisely deliver microagents, allowing them to converge to the target site. By adjusting the coil current inputs, the target location can be controlled. This study provides a foundation for the clinical application of microagent delivery and precision-targeted therapy.
ADVANCED INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Kim Tien Nguyen, Gwangjun Go, Zhen Jin, Bobby Aditya Darmawan, Ami Yoo, Seokjae Kim, Minghui Nan, Sang Bong Lee, Byungjeon Kang, Chang-Sei Kim, Hao Li, Doyeon Bang, Jong-Oh Park, Eunpyo Choi
Summary: This study proposes a novel method utilizing a magnetically guided self-rolled microrobot for targeted drug delivery, combined with real-time X-ray imaging and microrobot retrieval. The microrobot features precise localization and rapid drug release, showing potential for use in precise localized drug delivery systems.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
L. Xie, Z. Cong, S. Tang, M. Yang, Y. Li, C. Ren, Q. Chen, D. Lu, F. Wan, X. Zhang, S. Wu
Summary: This study introduces tumor cell-based microrobots loaded with oncolytic adenovirus and coated with Fe3O4 nanoparticles. These microrobots exhibit homologous adhesion, active virotherapy, and magnetic navigation capabilities. The replication of the infected virus inside the host cells allows for persistent and specific tumor infection and killing. The combination of magnetic propulsion and homologous binding greatly enhances the binding and penetration of the microrobots, improving their cell-killing efficacy.
MATERIALS TODAY CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Biomedical
[Anonymous]
Summary: In this study, intrinsically bioactive multifunctional nanocomposites (AMEC) were developed for targeted TBI theranostics. AMEC effectively reduced lesion size and improved cognition in TBI mice. Additionally, T1-T2 dual-modal MRI and PAI techniques enabled real-time tracking of drug delivery into the TBI lesion.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yuancheng Li, Manman Xie, Joshua B. Jones, Zhaobin Zhang, Zi Wang, Tu Dang, Xinyu Wang, Malgorzata Lipowska, Hui Mao
Summary: This study reports a novel theranostic approach that delivers anti-cancer drugs using targeted iron oxide nanoparticles, resulting in effective inhibition of glioblastoma growth.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2022)
