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Extremophile-based biohybrid micromotors for biomedical operations in harsh acidic environments
Fangyu Zhang1, Zhengxing Li1, Yaou Duan1
1Department of NanoEngineering and Chemical Engineering Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Science Advances
|December 23, 2022
Summary
Acidophilic microalgae biomotors navigate the stomach
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Robotics
- Gastrointestinal Drug Delivery
Background:
- Robotics faces challenges in extreme environments.
- Acidic conditions in the stomach pose a significant hurdle for delivery systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of acidophilic microalgae as self-propelling biomotors for gastrointestinal delivery.
- To assess the functionalization and cargo-carrying capacity of these biomotors under extreme conditions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized acidophilic microalgae as biomotors capable of sustained swimming in acidic environments.
- Functionalized biomotors with various cargos (small molecules, nanoparticles).
- Validated gastrointestinal delivery in a murine model following oral administration.
Main Results:
- Algae biomotors maintained swimming behavior in harsh acidic stomach conditions.
- Functionalization did not compromise self-propulsion.
- Successful delivery of model payloads was confirmed in vivo.
- Cargo surface properties influenced precise gastrointestinal localization.
Conclusions:
- Acidophilic algae-based biomotors offer a robust platform for gastrointestinal delivery applications.
- These multifunctional biomotors present advantages over traditional biohybrid systems.
- Significant potential for advanced biomedical applications in the GI tract.
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