Catching Cancer Cells with a 'Micro Robot Syringe'

A schematic diagram showing a needle-type microrobot approaching and anchoring at the treatment site through external rotating magnetic field control. While the external magnetic field force is necessary until it reaches the treatment site, drug delivery treatment is possible without additional magnetic field control once anchored and during the drug release process.

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] Domestic researchers have developed a needle-type micro robot capable of delivering drugs accurately and stably to the areas requiring treatment. This is expected to open a new chapter in precision therapy by enabling precise drug delivery without drug overuse. On the 13th, the research team led by Professor Hongsoo Choi at Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) announced that they have developed the world's first needle-type micro robot.

Development of Needle-Type Micro Robot

This is an optical microscope image comparing the measurement group showing drug release by needle-shaped microrobots on fluorescently labeled cancer cells and the measurement group without drug administration over time.

The needle-type robot developed by the research team features the ability to fix itself to cells using a needle and deliver drugs stably.

This robot is fabricated at the nano-micro scale and uses metal thin-film deposition technology to coat magnetic material (nickel) and biocompatible material (titanium oxide, TiO2). The magnetic material allows it to accurately reach the treatment site by following a magnetic field. The titanium oxide material enhances the capacity to load anticancer drugs through chemical methods.

In particular, the research team enabled precise movement of this robot to the treatment site through a self-developed automatic control algorithm. Since the robot is needle-shaped, it can be fixed at the delivered position without external energy or precise control, allowing drug administration.

Targeting Cancer Cells for Drug Delivery

The drug delivery process of the needle-type microrobot (a), experimental results according to the control environment (b), qualitative (c) and quantitative (d) experimental results of the fixation function according to the fluid flow environment.

The research team applied this robot to cancer tumors cultured in vitro and confirmed that drug delivery is possible for extended periods without external magnetic field energy. The robot accurately reached the cancer tumor, fixed itself with the needle, and administered the drug, resulting in the tumor's destruction following drug treatment.

The team plans to conduct research on large-scale magnetic field systems necessary for in vivo micro robot control and medical imaging systems required for micro robot visualization to facilitate clinical treatment and commercialization of this robot.

Professor Hongsoo Choi of DGIST's Department of Robotics said, "Through this research, we expect to improve the functions of existing micro robots, increase drug delivery efficiency, and reduce side effects. We will continue to develop more advanced micro robots and conduct follow-up studies involving animal experiments and collaborations with related hospitals and companies to develop a micro robot-based precision therapy system that can be utilized in actual medical settings."

The research results were published as a cover paper on the June 8 issue of the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.