Microrobots: The ‘Monkey King’ Inside the Iron Fan Princess?

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Recently, a research team from City University of Hong Kong has created a micrometer-level microrobot using 3D printing. For the first time internationally, the microrobot can transport cells to designated locations within living organisms under magnetic field drive while ensuring cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation.

The microrobot is designed to be spherical, with higher magnetic driving capability, less damage to tissues within organisms, and easier promotion of tissue fusion. The small sphere has a porous structure that helps with tissue vascularization, forming a microcirculation network that provides nutrients to cells. The surface of the small sphere is full of protrusions, serving as points for cell attachment, covered with nickel and titanium to enhance magnetism and biocompatibility, thereby increasing payload capacity.

The researchers explained that under the control of an external magnetic field, the microrobots carrying cells traveled a rectangular route in PBS buffer, artificial cerebrospinal fluid, and mouse serum. Subsequently, the research team simulated a more complex vascular structure using a microfluidic chip, proving that the microrobots can transport cells directionally within such a system.

So, how can we confirm that the “little boat” can automatically “unload cargo”? The research team conducted experiments on nude mice (a hairless mouse model with congenital thymic aplasia). The chosen “cargo” was fluorescently labeled HeLa cells (derived from the cervical cancer cells of an African American woman, Henrietta Lacks), as cancer cells can proliferate to detectable levels within weeks. They injected the “little boat” containing cancer cells into the subcutaneous tissue of the left back of the mice and injected an “empty boat” into the right back. Four weeks later, a fluorescent reaction appeared on the left back of the mice. Dissection results also showed that the microrobots were all located at the tumor edges.

Fluorescent reaction appeared on the left back of the mice

Researchers stated that microrobot technology has great potential for clinical applications in regenerative medicine. For example, microrobots can transport differentiable stem cells to damaged tissues for repair . Now, vascular scavengers, drug carriers, cancer cell killers… the invisible microrobot technology is bringing more and more wonderful “miracles” to clinical medical applications.

Source: Comprehensive materials from Medical Device World – Good Doctor Medical Device World, The Paper

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