Suction‐Cup‐Inspired Adhesive Micromotors for Drug Delivery

Abstract

Micromotors have opened novel avenues for drug delivery due to their capacity for self-propelling. Attempts in this field trend towards ameliorating their functions to promote their clinical applications. In this paper, an ingenious suction-cup-inspired micromotor is presented with adhesive properties for drug delivery in the stomach. The micromotors are fabricated by using hydrogel replicating the structure of suction-cup-like microparticles, which derive from self-assembly of colloidal crystals under rapid solvent extraction, followed by loading magnesium (Mg) in the bottom spherical surface. The Mg-loaded micromotors can realize spontaneous movement due to the continual generation of hydrogen bubbles in gastric juice. The combination of unique suction-cup-like structure with excellent motion performance makes the micromotor an ideal carrier for drug delivery as they can efficiently adhere to the tissue. Moreover, benefiting from the porous structure, the hydrogel micromotors exhibit a high volume-surface ratio, which enables efficient drug loading. It is demonstrated that the suction-cup-inspired micromotors can adhere efficiently to the ulcer-region in the stomach and release drugs due to their distinctive architecture and spontaneous motion, exhibiting desirable curative effect of gastric ulcer. Thus, the suction-cup-inspired micromotors with adhesive properties are expected to advance the development of micromotor in clinical applications.

Microrobots for Targeted Delivery and Therapy in Digestive System

“…In contrast, the therapeutic drugs delivered by autonomous motor are evenly distributed throughout the stomach due to their erratic and continuous motion, which is usually suitable for the treatment of H. pylori and gastric ulcer. ,, …”

Applications of Nano/Micromotors for Treatment and Diagnosis in Biological Lumens

“…Moreover, many bionic nano/micromotors could overcome extrinsic forces. Cai et al [ 37 ] designed a magnesium-based hydrogel nano/micromotor inspired by the sucking disc of an octopus ( Figure 1 c, Table 1 ) In the acidic environment of gastric juice, Mg reacted with hydrogen ions to form hydrogen to drive the nano/micromotor, and due to the special sucking-disk-like structure, it could be effectively adsorbed on the gastric mucosa to achieve efficient drug delivery. Even after rinsing 10 times, the micromotors still adhered to the stomach wall tissue ex vivo.…”

Abalone‐Inspired Adhesive and Photo‐Responsive Microparticle Delivery Systems for Periodontal Drug Therapy

“…[ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ] In contrast, various adhesive stratagems have been employed by natural creatures to guarantee their survival. [ 28 , 29 ] For instance, the suction‐cup‐structured prolegs of abalones feature with extraordinary adhesion capacity underwater, making them able to stick to rocks in the sea stably. [ 30 ] These features provide many bio‐inspirations for creating adhesive matters.…”