Researchers at ETH Zurich have unveiled a groundbreaking magnetically guided microrobotics system designed to navigate the body’s complex vasculature for precise drug delivery. Led by Dr. Fabian Landers, the team has developed a modular platform that integrates an electromagnetic navigation system with a custom release catheter and drug-loaded dissolvable capsules. Their tests, conducted in vitro and in vivo, demonstrated the system’s ability to maneuver through intricate blood vessels and release drugs directly into targeted tissues, potentially revolutionizing treatment protocols.
This innovative approach addresses the critical challenge of systemic drug delivery, which can lead to severe side effects and high drug failure rates in clinical trials. By enabling targeted therapies, the microrobotic platform could significantly enhance treatment efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. The researchers emphasize that their findings, published in Science, highlight the potential for microrobots to deliver high concentrations of therapeutic agents directly to disease sites, paving the way for safer medical interventions.
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