Versatile magnetic hydrogel soft capsule microrobots for targeted delivery

• Published in: iScience Vol. 26; no. 5; p. 106727
• Main Authors: Xu, Zichen, Wu, Zehao, Yuan, Mingzhe, Chen, Yuanhe, Ge, Wei, Xu, Qingsong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 19.05.2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biomedical materials; Magnetic property; Robotics; Magnetic property; Biomedical materials; Robotics
• ISSN: 2589-0042; 2589-0042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106727

Maintaining the completeness of cargo and achieving on-demand cargo release during long navigations in complex environments of the internal human body is crucial. Herein, we report a novel design of magnetic hydrogel soft capsule microrobots, which can be physically disintegrated to release microrobot swarms and diverse cargoes with almost no loss. CaCl2 solution and magnetic powders are utilized to produce suspension droplets, which are put into sodium alginate solution to generate magnetic hydrogel membranes for enclosing microrobot swarms and cargos. Low-density rotating magnetic fields drive the microrobots. Strong gradient magnetic fields break the mechanical structure of the hydrogel shell to implement on-demand release. Under the guidance of ultrasound imaging, the microrobot is remotely controlled in acidic or alkaline environments, similar to those in the human digestion system. The proposed capsule microrobots provide a promising solution for targeted cargo delivery in the internal human body. [Display omitted] •A novel design of magnetic hydrogel soft capsule microrobots is proposed•It is physically disintegrated to release microrobot swarms with almost no loss•The microrobots are remotely controlled for operation in acidic or alkaline liquids•It provides an innovative strategy for cargo delivery in the internal human body Robotics; Magnetic property; Biomedical materials