In the future, tiny robots could deliver drugs exactly where they’re needed in the body. These robots aren’t like the robots you might imagine; they’re more like small bubbles. They must survive in body fluids, be directed to specific spots, release drugs only at the target, and then be safely absorbed by the body.

A research team led by Caltech has made these microrobots, called bioresorbable acoustic microrobots (BAM). The researchers successfully used these bots to shrink bladder tumors in mice. In a Caltech press release, researcher Wei Gao from Caltech explains that these robots can guide drugs directly to tumors, making treatment more effective.

A paper published in Science Robotics describes the BAM microrobots and preliminary test results.

These microrobots are made from a hydrogel, a material that can hold a lot of fluid and is safe for the body. They’re created using a precise technique called two-photon polymerization, which is like 3D printing but at a microscopic level. Each robot is about the size of a human hair.

The robots contain magnetic particles and drugs. Magnetic fields guide them to the right place, and once there, they release the drug. They have a special design where the outside attracts water to avoid clumping, while the inside repels water to hold an air bubble. This bubble is key for moving the robots and tracking them with ultrasound.

Successful tests in laboratory mice

The team tested these robots in mice, showing that they could deliver drugs more effectively than traditional methods. They’re now looking into using these robots for different treatments and possibly in humans. This could change how we do drug delivery and surgery, making them much more precise.

“We think this is a very promising platform for drug delivery and precision surgery,” concludes Gao. “Looking to the future, we could evaluate using this robot as a platform to deliver different types of therapeutic payloads or agents for different conditions. And in the long term, we hope to test this in humans.”

Let us know your thoughts! Sign up for a Mindplex account now, join our Telegram, or follow us on Twitter.