Rachel Klemovitch06.12.23
Engineers at the University of Colorado— Boulder have developed an acoustic wave powered microrobot. The device is tiny, only 20 micrometers wider and achieve a speed of 3 millimeters per second. The microrobots are made using biocompatible polymers and include a cavity that holds an air bubble with three fins attached. Simulated by acoustic waves, the bubble generates movement thought the vibrations made by an external device. With significant potential for drug delivery, the Colorado researchers are investigating the potential of using these microrobots to deliver drugs to the bladder.
“Imagine of microrobots could perform certain tasks in the body, such as non-invasive surgeries," commented Jin Lee, a researcher involved in the project. “Instead of cutting into the patient, we could simply introduce the robots to the bod through a pill or an injection, and they will perform the procedure themselves.”
These microrobots are geared towards finding a solution for bladder diseases such as interstitial cystitis, also known as painful bladder syndrome. Currently patients must attend a clinic several times over a few weeks to receive catheter-mediated delivery of dexamethasone. Researchers’ goal is for these microrobots to reduce the number of visits patients are required to partake in and provide more durable and sustained drug delivery.
The found solution is a bladder delivered microrobot that can offer a sustained release of dexamethasone for several days. Researchers have tested the microrobots in mice so far. Thousands of robots were delivered to the mouse bladders, where they stuck to the bladder walls. This reduced the risk of be urinated out.
Microrobots continue to evolve through an increasing number of research teams. Researcher C. Wyatt Shields said, “Microscale robots have garnered a lot of excitement in scientific circles, but what makes them interesting to us is that we can design them to perform useful tasks in the body.”
“Imagine of microrobots could perform certain tasks in the body, such as non-invasive surgeries," commented Jin Lee, a researcher involved in the project. “Instead of cutting into the patient, we could simply introduce the robots to the bod through a pill or an injection, and they will perform the procedure themselves.”
These microrobots are geared towards finding a solution for bladder diseases such as interstitial cystitis, also known as painful bladder syndrome. Currently patients must attend a clinic several times over a few weeks to receive catheter-mediated delivery of dexamethasone. Researchers’ goal is for these microrobots to reduce the number of visits patients are required to partake in and provide more durable and sustained drug delivery.
The found solution is a bladder delivered microrobot that can offer a sustained release of dexamethasone for several days. Researchers have tested the microrobots in mice so far. Thousands of robots were delivered to the mouse bladders, where they stuck to the bladder walls. This reduced the risk of be urinated out.
Microrobots continue to evolve through an increasing number of research teams. Researcher C. Wyatt Shields said, “Microscale robots have garnered a lot of excitement in scientific circles, but what makes them interesting to us is that we can design them to perform useful tasks in the body.”