Swiss Researchers Develop Microscopic Robot for Targeted Drug Delivery
A Swiss research team has developed a microscopic robot, resembling a capsule and measuring no larger than a grain of sand. This innovation represents a major leap in the field of targeted drug delivery within the human body. The robot is designed to navigate through blood vessels and cerebrospinal fluid, delivering medication precisely to targeted organs while minimizing systemic distribution, a common issue with traditional treatments.
This breakthrough aims to address one of the significant challenges in drug development: "reducing severe side effects that hinder the progress of many drugs 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 countless applications for this robot."
The robot operates using an advanced system of six electromagnetic coils placed around the patient's body. Each coil, approximately 20 cm in diameter, generates magnetic fields that allow the surgeon to maneuver the robot, enabling it to move against the blood flow—a challenging feat for miniature medical robots.
To navigate the robot through complex vascular pathways, surgeons utilize a control device similar to a PlayStation controller.
The capsule is made from a medically safe blend that includes tantalum for X-ray tracking, iron oxide particles for magnetic properties, and 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 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 targeted sites.
Upon reaching its destination, "the surgeon can dissolve the gelatinous envelope to release the medication directly into the targeted area without widespread distribution into the bloodstream."
Scientists assert that this method of "directing medication to the affected organ will significantly reduce secondary toxicity that prevents promising treatments from advancing through trials, ranging from cancers to neurological diseases."
This achievement has been widely praised in scientific circles, with Professor Howie Choset from Carnegie Mellon University calling it "one of the most exciting advancements in precise treatment delivery."
Professor Mark Miskin from the University of Pennsylvania remarked that the study represents "a turning point that will change how researchers think about medical robotics," emphasizing that this technology appears to be clinically ready.
The research team anticipates that human clinical trials will begin "within 3 to 5 years." Nelson highlights the technology's vast potential, stating it "could change the future of treating complex diseases such as aneurysms, aggressive brain cancers, and arteriovenous malformations."
