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Inhalable biohybrid microrobots: a non-invasive approach for lung treatment
Zhengxing Li1,2, Zhongyuan Guo1, Fangyu Zhang1
1Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Nature Communications
|January 14, 2025
Summary
Inhalable biohybrid microrobots offer a non-invasive method for lung drug delivery. This approach achieves homogeneous distribution and prolonged retention, demonstrating therapeutic efficacy for pneumonia.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Pulmonary Medicine
Background:
- Rising prevalence of respiratory diseases necessitates improved lung treatment.
- Current drug delivery systems have limitations in efficacy and therapeutic outcomes.
- Intratracheal administration of microrobots for pulmonary drug delivery is invasive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an efficient, non-invasive inhalation method for delivering biohybrid microrobots to the lungs.
- To evaluate the distribution, retention, and therapeutic efficacy of inhalable microrobots.
- To overcome clinical translation barriers associated with invasive delivery methods.
Main Methods:
- Utilized picoeukaryote algae microrobots encapsulated in aerosol particles via nebulization.
- Assessed microrobot motility, lung distribution, and retention in a mouse model.
- Delivered vancomycin-loaded nanoparticles functionalized on microrobots to treat bacterial pneumonia.
Main Results:
- Achieved successful delivery of microrobots to the lower respiratory tract via inhalation.
- Microrobots retained motility (~55 μm s⁻¹) for homogeneous lung distribution.
- Demonstrated long-term lung retention (>5 days) and therapeutic efficacy against MRSA pneumonia.
Conclusions:
- Inhalable biohybrid microrobots provide a promising non-invasive pulmonary drug delivery system.
- This method avoids anesthesia and shows significant translational potential for clinical applications.
- Offers a viable alternative for treating lung diseases with improved drug delivery efficiency.
