Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) have developed a system in which microrobots, composed of tiny gel droplets, are filled with medication and magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, allowing them to be controlled from outside the body using a powerful magnet. These robots are so small that they can easily pass through narrow blood vessels.
Microrobots can navigate inside veins and arteries and deliver medication precisely to the affected area, allowing doctors to administer very small doses locally and reducing the toxicity associated with systemic treatment that affects the whole body.
During testing, the robots were injected into the blood vessels of mice and their up-and-down movement was controlled with the blood flow. The robots successfully delivered the medication accurately to the target site in over 95% of cases.
To activate the drug release, scientists slightly heated the capsule by altering the magnetic field. The study authors confirmed that the materials used are safe for health, but it remains unknown how the body eliminates the resulting particles.
This development is an important step in the treatment of infectious diseases and disorders associated with oxidative stress, and opens new horizons for highly accurate drug delivery within the body.