Biomimetic magnetobacterial microrobots for active pneumonia therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Significant advancements in synthetic micro-/nanorobots for biomedical applications exist.
• A gap remains in realizing efficient in vitro to in vivo therapy with miniature robots.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop biohybrid microrobots for active and efficient pneumonia therapy in vivo.
• To utilize click chemistry for loading curcumin onto hybrid cell membrane nanoparticles and magnetotactic bacteria AMB-1.

Main Methods:

• Hybrid cell membrane nanoparticles loaded with curcumin were attached to magnetotactic bacteria AMB-1 using click chemistry.
• The resulting biohybrid microrobots (CurNPs@2TM-AMB-1) were actuated wirelessly using an external rotating magnetic field.
• The microrobots' ability to scavenge inflammatory factors and SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus was evaluated.

Main Results:

• The biohybrid microrobots demonstrated controllable and wireless movement.
• They efficiently scavenged inflammatory factors and SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus via cell membrane receptors.
• Active movement significantly increased and prolonged curcumin accumulation in the lungs, alleviating pneumonia and regulating the microenvironment.

Conclusions:

• The designed hybrid microrobot system shows promise for pneumonia therapy.
• Magnetic actuation combined with active neutralization of inflammatory factors and viruses offers a novel therapeutic platform.