Biodegradable Microrobots for Active Navigation and Delivery on Ex Vivo Cardiac Models

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Robotics

Background:

• Magnetically driven microrobots offer precise, fuel-free operation for biomedical tasks.
• Developing biocompatible and biodegradable microrobots for complex biological surfaces is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create simple, biocompatible, and biodegradable microrobots for versatile tasks on biological surfaces.
• To evaluate the navigation, control, and functionality of these microrobots on ex vivo chicken heart tissue.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microparticles and coated them with iron using physical vapor deposition.
• Utilized rotating magnetic fields for microrobot locomotion, enabling both open-loop and closed-loop control.
• Tested microrobot performance on ex vivo chicken heart tissue, assessing motion, trajectory tracking, and cell transport capabilities.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated consistent rolling motion and precise trajectory tracking on complex, heterogeneous chicken heart tissue surfaces.
• Successfully utilized microrobots for targeted cell transportation on the tissue.
• Confirmed microrobot biodegradability over time with no significant observed cytotoxicity.

Conclusions:

• The developed microrobots are biocompatible, biodegradable, and exhibit versatile locomotion and control.
• These microrobots show significant promise for applications in targeted therapeutic delivery and in vivo diagnostics.
• The simple design and robust functionality position these microrobots as valuable tools for advanced biomedical applications.