A Preclinical Multifunctional Capsule Robot with Unified Diagnosis and Targeted Thermal Therapy for Gastrointestinal...

Capsule endoscopes play an essential role in visualizing the gastrointestinal tract and identifying pathological lesions, but existing systems are still largely limited to passive visualization without therapeutic capability. Here, we present a proof-of-concept multifunctional capsule robot (MCR) integrating diagnostic imaging, magnetic navigation, wireless power transfer, and targeted thermotherapy. In the ex vivo environment, the MCR relies on magnetic navigation and control to position itself at the target site. This enables site-specific thermal ablation, where controlled high temperatures are applied within the tissue to achieve substantial cellular destruction. These results support the feasibility of the prototype's intended functions. Through a series of in vitro cellular experiments, the MCR further demonstrated controllable temperature regulation, achieving up to 89% cell mortality under 70 ${}^{\circ }C$ heating for 120 s. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach at a proof-of-principle level. The experiments validate the system-level feasibility of integrating diagnostic imaging, targeted treatment, and wireless charging within one capsule. At this stage, the platform remains a preclinical prototype and is not ready for clinical translation; further engineering and preclinical validation are required. Nonetheless, this MCR architecture provides a preliminary framework that may support future improvements in minimally invasive gastrointestinal therapeutic systems.