Microscopic Robot the Size of a Grain of Sand Advances Precision in Drug Delivery
A research team from Switzerland has created a microscopic robot in the shape of a "capsule," measuring no larger than a grain of sand. This innovation marks a significant leap in the field of drug delivery within the body. The robot is designed to navigate through blood vessels and cerebrospinal fluid, enabling precise delivery of medications to target organs while minimizing systemic distribution, a common issue with traditional treatments.
This advancement aims to address one of the major challenges in drug development: reducing severe side effects that hinder the progress of many medications in clinical trials.
The research project is led by Professor Bradley Nelson from the Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems at ETH Zurich. He remarked on the success, stating, "We are only at the beginning of the journey... Surgeons will find countless applications for this robot."
The operation of the robotic capsule relies on an advanced system consisting of six electromagnetic coils arranged around the patient's body. These coils, each approximately 20 cm in diameter, generate magnetic fields that allow the surgeon to maneuver the robot, giving it the unique ability to navigate against blood flow, a challenging feat for microscopic medical robots.
To control the robot precisely through complex blood vessels, surgeons utilize a controller similar to a "PlayStation" game controller.
The capsule is made from a medically safe composite that includes tantalum, allowing the robot to be tracked using X-rays, as well as iron oxide particles that provide the necessary magnetic properties, along with medical-grade gelatin that binds all components with the medication into a uniform, soluble structure.
The robot has demonstrated its effectiveness in a series of tests on pigs, which have a vascular structure similar to that of humans, as well as in silicone models mimicking human blood vessels. The capsule was able to navigate smoothly through narrow channels and reach target sites.
Once the robot reaches its final destination, "the surgeon can dissolve the gelatin shell to release the medication directly at the target site, minimizing its spread throughout the bloodstream."
Scientists emphasize that this method of directing medication straight to the affected organ will significantly reduce side effects that impede access to promising treatments in early-stage studies, ranging from cancer to neurological disorders.
This breakthrough has been met with enthusiasm in the scientific community, with Professor Hawi Choset from Carnegie Mellon University calling it "one of the most exciting achievements in precise drug delivery."
Professor Mark Miskin from the University of Pennsylvania described the study as "a turning point that will change researchers' perspectives on medical robots," noting that it "is a technology that appears ready for clinical application."">
The research team anticipates that clinical trials involving human subjects may begin within the next three to five years. Nelson emphasizes the vast potential of this technology, stating it could "transform the future of treating complex diseases such as aneurysms, aggressive brain tumors, and arteriovenous malformations."
