Microscopic Robot the Size of a Grain of Sand Advances Precision Drug Delivery
A Swiss research team has developed a microscopic robot in the shape of a "capsule," measuring no larger than a grain of sand. This innovation represents a substantial advancement in the field of targeted drug delivery within the human body.
The robot is designed to navigate through blood vessels and cerebrospinal fluid to deliver medications directly to target organs, minimizing the widespread distribution that often occurs with traditional treatments.
This innovative development aims to tackle 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 commented on the achievement, stating, "We are just at the beginning... surgeons will find endless applications for this robot."
The capsule operates using an advanced system of six electromagnetic coils placed around the patient's body. These coils, approximately 20 cm in diameter, generate magnetic fields that allow the surgeon to maneuver the robot, enabling it to move against blood flow—a challenging feat for miniaturized medical robots.
Surgeons guide the robot through the complex vascular pathways using a control system similar to a PlayStation joystick.
The capsule is made from a medically safe mixture that includes tantalum, allowing for X-ray tracking, and iron oxide particles that provide the necessary magnetic properties, along with medical-grade gelatin that binds all components with the medication into a unified, soluble structure.
The robot has demonstrated its effectiveness in a series of tests conducted on pigs, which have a vascular structure similar to humans, as well as in silicone models simulating human blood vessels. The capsule was able to navigate smoothly through narrow channels and reach target sites.
Upon reaching its final destination, the surgeon can dissolve the gelatin cover to release the medication directly at the target site, minimizing dispersion in the bloodstream.
Scientists assert that this methodology of directing medication straight to the affected organ will significantly reduce secondary toxicity that hampers the advancement of promising treatments in clinical trials, from cancers to neurological diseases.
This achievement has been well received in scientific circles, with Professor Hawi Choset from Carnegie Mellon University describing it as "one of the most exciting breakthroughs in precision treatment delivery."">
Meanwhile, Professor Mark Miskin from the University of Pennsylvania noted that the study represents "a milestone that will change how researchers think about medical robots," emphasizing that it is "a technology that seems clinically ready."">
The research team anticipates that human clinical trials will begin "within 3 to 5 years." Nelson highlights the vast potential of this technology, stating it could transform the future treatment of complex diseases such as aneurysms, aggressive brain cancers, and arteriovenous malformations.
