Transport of Adoptive Cell Transfers With Magnetic Helical Microrobots

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Cellular Biology

Background:

• Adoptive cell transfers (ACTs) show promise for treating inflamed tissues but face delivery challenges through biological barriers like mucus.
• Maintaining the therapeutic function and phenotype of transferred cells in diseased microenvironments is a significant hurdle.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the use of magnetically controlled helical microrobots for transporting macrophages through mucus.
• To assess the ability of these microrobots to maintain macrophage function and phenotype via drug elution.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of nickel-titanium coated helical microrobots using two-photon lithography and sputter coating.
• Embedding microrobots with dexamethasone for sustained drug release.
• Investigating macrophage attachment to microrobots and analyzing cell-helix complex trajectories under rotating magnetic fields.
• Comparing transport efficiency in aqueous solutions versus artificial mucus.

Main Results:

• Successful attachment of macrophages to helical microrobots.
• Demonstrated nonzero velocity of cell-helix complexes in viscous artificial mucus.
• Confirmed no loss of macrophage viability after magnetic actuation.
• Observed directed polarization of macrophages towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype due to dexamethasone release.

Conclusions:

• Magnetically controlled helical microrobots can effectively transport macrophages through mucus barriers.
• Sustained drug elution from microrobots preserves macrophage viability and promotes a therapeutic phenotype.
• This system presents a proof-of-concept for advanced cell delivery strategies in inflammatory disease treatment.