The specialists from Nanyan Technological University of Singapore have successfully created a micro-robot, inspired by the film “Fantastic Journey” from the 1960s, that is the size of a rice grain. This micro-robot is designed for the targeted delivery of drugs to specific parts of the body. The development is based on magnetic microparticles and polymers that are safe for human use, and the movement of the robot is controlled by magnetic fields.
The head of the group, Lum Ga Zhany, stated that the conventional methods of drug delivery such as tablets and injections are less effective compared to the directed delivery achieved with this microrobot. This innovative device is capable of carrying four different drugs simultaneously and releasing them in a specific order and dosage, a feature that was not possible in previous models where drugs were released simultaneously and only three substances could be delivered at a time. According to co-author Yang Zilin, this advancement is crucial for the future of medicine, especially in the treatment of conditions like cancer that require precise control over multiple drugs.
Surgeon Yeo Leong Litt Leonard from the National University Hospital and the NG Teng Teng National Hospital in Singapore also sees the potential of microbots in medical procedures. He believes that these devices could replace current minimally invasive methods using catheters and probes, as they can easily access hard-to-reach areas of the body and gradually release medications without the need for leaving foreign objects inside the body for extended periods.
The team is now focusing on further shrinking the size of the microbot to enable its use in treating conditions like brain tumors, bladder issues, and intestinal problems. Similar developments exist worldwide, with engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology creating miniature batteries to serve as a power source for microbots, and the California company Endiatx introducing a robotic capsule known as a “pillbot” that can potentially revolutionize endoscopic procedures.