Magnetic Micro/Nanorobots: A New Age in Biomedicines

Abstract

Micro‐/nanorobots have tremendous potential in biomedical applications, as they efficiently and accurately perform local diagnosis and targeted therapy. A magnetic field provides a wireless mean to drive and control micro/nanorobots. This method requires no fuel and is convenient for debugging, reconfiguration, and programmability; it is recyclable and allows nondestructive penetration of biological tissue. The successful integration of well‐designed robots, remote actuation systems, and imaging techniques has become a crucial step toward biomedical applications, particularly in vivo implementations. Herein, the fabrication methods of micro/nanorobots are examined, the driving mechanism of magnetic micro/nanorobots is explained, and the development of micro/nanorobots as transport tools to load and deliver drugs, biological reagents, and live cells is traced. Applications of these micro/nanorobots are expanding as surgical tools for sample collection, ophthalmic surgery, and biofilm degradation and as tools for in vivo and in vitro imaging relying on light, sound, and magnetism. Finally, the challenges faced by micro/nanorobots in in vivo applications and their future prospects are discussed.

Two-photon polymerization-based 4D printing and its applications

“…Utilizing a rotating magnetic field, magnetic microswimmers convert rotational motion into translational motion through self-helical propulsion, a phenomenon observed in low Reynolds number regimes [128]. The evolution of TPP-printed magnetic fielddriven micro/nanostructures has progressed from simple helical designs to complex motion structures with flexible links and rigid segments [129], demonstrating significant potential in biomedical applications [130]. Given that many TPPsuitable materials (e.g.…”

“…Micro/nanorobotics has recently garnered substantial attention in the field of biomedicine [130,138,139]. In comparison to traditional nanomaterials used in human healthcare, 4D-printed micro/nanorobots [30] offer a broad spectrum of applications, spanning from precise cargo transportation [140] and controlled drug release [141] to surface functionalization [53,85], precision surgery [142], and detoxification [143].…”

Magnetic Modulation of Biochemical Synthesis in Synthetic Cells

“…The use of magnetic fields as a physical trigger is attractive due to their ability to noninvasively penetrate through tissue, with low toxicity and intrinsic biorthogonality, allowing for long-range, spatially controlled activation. , Magnetic nanoparticles which are controlled by magnetic fields currently have a wide range of biomedical and biotechnological applications, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), , protein biodetection, − antimicrobial applications, − hyperthermia treatments, − and nanorobotics. , However, the dependence of magnetic systems on abiotic/inorganic building blocks, as opposed to protein and nucleic acid machinery, hinders their exploitation in top-down synthetic biology (where living cells are genetically engineered to have new capabilities), although progress is being made …”

Bidirectional Propulsion of Bioinspired Microswimmer in Microchannel at Low Reynolds Number

“…In comparison to macroscale robotics, microrobots having onboard components like transmitters, receivers, sensors, and actuators are far from achieving. Recently, there are reports [6,7], that using minimal components, micro-swimmers/robots/-motors can perform tasks like delivery of therapeutic cargo, controlling drug release, probing intra-and extra-cellular environments, manipulating microscale objects, sensing (temperature, pH, and biomolecules), and detoxification. In actual scenarios, these applications are to be carried out in complex biological environments and require precise control and good efficacy.…”