Magnetic Microrobots Offer New Hope for Stroke and Tumour Treatment

According to studies published in the journal Science, researchers at ETH Zurich have achieved promising results using magnetic microrobots to treat strokes and tumours. Currently, clot-dissolving drugs and other medications are typically delivered through the bloodstream. While effective, this approach allows the drugs to circulate widely, which can increase the risk of unwanted side effects over time.

The newly developed microrobots address this problem by delivering treatment precisely at the affected site, the point of origin of a stroke or tumour. This targeted approach significantly improves accuracy and limits the spread of medication to healthy tissues. In animal trials, the technique demonstrated a high success rate with minimal adverse effects.

This innovation marks a major advancement in targeted drug delivery and could reshape the treatment of critical conditions in the future. During animal testing, doctors guided and activated the microrobots using high-frequency magnetic fields. These fields caused the magnetic nanoparticles within the robots to generate heat, triggering the controlled release of medication from gel-filled capsules at the exact target location.

Beyond reducing side effects, microrobots allow doctors to access areas that are otherwise difficult to reach, such as the cerebral blood vessels deep within the brain.

Professor Bradley, a leading microrobotics expert at ETH Zurich, has endorsed the technology for use in critical treatments, noting its ability to reach remote sites without damaging surrounding tissues.

After initial success with silicone models, the research team expanded testing to animal models, including pigs and sheep, demonstrating the technology’s effectiveness across different anatomical structures. As research progresses, the team aims to refine the technology further so that microrobots can be safely used in minimally invasive, human clinical procedures in the future.

Source: Times of India