Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart, led by Metin Sitti, have developed innovative “microrollers” capable of carrying chemotherapy drugs. These tiny robots are inspired by the movement of white blood cells and can navigate against blood flow, targeting cancer cells directly.
Constructed from glass microparticles, these spherical microrollers have one side coated in a magnetic nanofilm comprising nickel and gold, while the other side carries the cancer drug doxorubicin and molecules that identify cancer cells. In simulations using mouse blood and synthetic channels mimicking human blood vessels, the microrollers demonstrated selective attachment to cancer cells, releasing doxorubicin upon UV light exposure.
Controlled by magnetic fields, these microrollers can move at speeds up to 600 micrometres per second, navigating vascular junctions with precision. The tested robots ranged in size from 3 to 7.8 micrometres, comparable to human red blood cells.
Future developments include exploring alternative drug release triggers, like heat or near-infrared light, and creating biodegradable versions of these robots. The team envisions testing them in animals shortly, aiming for efficient, targeted cancer treatment with minimal drug dosages.
Sources: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.aba5726
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2244195-tiny-robots-can-travel-through-rushing-blood-to-deliver-drugs/