Micromotors for Active Delivery of Minerals toward the Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anemia

Abstract

As the most common nutritional disorder, iron deficiency represents a major public health problem with broad impacts on physical and mental development. However, treatment is often compromised by low iron bioavailability and undesired side effects. Here, we report on the development of active mineral delivery vehicles using Mg-based micromotors, which can autonomously propel in gastrointestinal fluids, aiding in the dynamic delivery of minerals. Iron and selenium are combined as a model mineral payload in the micromotor platform. We demonstrate the ability of our mineral-loaded micromotors to replenish iron and selenium stores in an anemic mouse model after 30 days of treatment, normalizing hematological parameters such as red blood count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit. Additionally, the micromotor platform exhibits no toxicity after the treatment regimen. This proof-of-concept study indicates that micromotor-based active delivery of mineral supplements represents an attractive approach toward alleviating nutritional deficiencies.

Medical Micro/Nanorobots in Precision Medicine

“…The microrobot‐based therapy resulted in the normalization of diverse, relevant health parameters, including red blood cell count, and hemoglobin. [ 247 ] In a similar direction, microrobots have also been described as active anion delivery systems. These robots were coated with a polymeric viologen, which can selectively interact with anionic species of different sizes and charge densities.…”

Enzyme catalysis powered micro/nanomotors for biomedical applications

“…Apart from these, there are few examples of MNMs based on Zn and Mg metals studied by Wang et al that can power motion in the presence of acidic pH conditions present in the stomach and utilized for biomedical applications. [162][163][164][165] However, these MNMs are not the focus of this review and are hence only briefly discussed here, to showcase the other possibilities.…”

Hydrogen‐Powered Microswimmers for Precise and Active Hydrogen Therapy Towards Acute Ischemic Stroke

“…Among different types of micro/nanomotors, Mg‐based microswimmers powered by water or acid were developed with versatile biomedical applications, for example enhanced oral vaccination by active antigen delivery, [ 27 ] enhanced drug delivery by active microneedle patch, [ 28 ] neutralization of gastric acid for pH‐responsive payload release, [ 29 ] active delivery of virus‐like nanoparticles to promote anti‐tumor activity, [ 30 ] and active delivery of minerals toward the treatment of iron deficiency anemia. [ 31 ] Moreover, our previous study have proved that an Mg based microswimmer could continuously generate H 2 to scavenge ROS in tumor cells, [ 32 ] which allows Mg microswimmer to be an ideal H 2 generator as well as an active H 2 deliverer.…”