Selected from i4U
Author: Hira Bashir
Translated by Machine Heart
Contributors: Niu Chunyu, Li Yazhou
The easy-to-operate and multifunctional bionic robots will bring a revolution in drug delivery and other surgical operations.
Microtechnology has been applied in many fields, including medicine, where microengineering and nanotechnology are considered to have the potential to revolutionize drug delivery and other surgical procedures.
Researchers from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and ETH Zurich recently demonstrated a new method that could lead to the development of easy-to-operate, multifunctional micro robots. These micro robots, using this new method, can enter the human body, inject drugs, and perform precise surgical operations, such as clearing blocked arteries and culturing stem cells, which would otherwise require complex traditional surgeries. These micro robots come in various shapes. Ideally, they need to operate autonomously, but currently, they are controlled remotely by external users to achieve more effective operations than traditional tools.
Unlike traditional robots, the new robots are not rigid. Their soft design and special shapes allow them to move to any required location.
Before fixing their shapes, these micro robots must undergo some processing. First, nanoparticles are encapsulated in biocompatible hydrogels. Next, under the influence of an electromagnetic field, the nanoparticles hidden in different parts of the robots begin to move.
Researchers have demonstrated the micro robots’ reactions in different environments; for example, in an electromagnetic field, the robots swim in water and can move along specific routes according to the direction of the nanoparticles in the gel. Videos show a bacterial flagellum-like micro robot contracting when heated and rotating in multiple directions when cooled.
“In this movement, both the bacterial body and the flagellum play important roles,” said Selman Sakar, a scientist at EPFL. “The new production method helps us test a wide range of shapes and combinations to achieve the best mobility for specific tasks.”
“Our research also valuable demonstrates how bacteria enter the human body and adapt to changes in their internal microenvironment.”
Nanotechnology typically operates at a scale of 100 nanometers or less, while microtechnology can extend to a micrometer (one millionth of a meter); both systems are equally important in the development of drug delivery and performing various surgical operations.
Although micro robots are very likely to replace traditional methods, the challenges should not be underestimated. Researchers also recognize the need to improve the micro robots to be more efficient.
Sakar said, “We still need to consider many factors. For example, we need to ensure that the micro robots do not cause any side effects to patients.”
© This article was translated by Machine Heart. Machine Heart is a contracted author on Toutiao. The article was first published on Toutiao, please contact this public account for authorization to reprint.
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