Title
Development of a magnetic microrobot for carrying and delivering targeted cells.
Abstract
The precise delivery of targeted cells through magnetic field-driven microrobots/carriers is a promising technique for targeted therapy and tissue regeneration. This paper presents a microrobot designed with a burr-like porous spherical structure for carrying and delivering targeted cells in vivo under a magnetic gradient field-driven mechanism. The robot was fabricated by using three-dimensional laser lithography and coated with Ni for magnetic actuation and Ti for biocompatibility. Numerical and experimental studies demonstrated that the proposed microrobot design could enhance magnetic driving capability, promote cell-carrying capacity, and benefit cell viability. Microrobots loaded with cells could be automatically controlled to reach a desired site by using a self-constructed electromagnetic coil system, as verified by in vivo transport of cell-cultured microrobots in zebrafish embryos. The carried cells could be spontaneously released from the microrobot to the surrounding tissues; in vitro experiments showed that cells from the microrobot were directly released onto the desired site or were able to pass through the blood vessel-like microchannel to arrive at the delivery area. Further in vivo cell-releasing tests were performed on nude mice, followed by histological study. This research provides a microrobotic device platform for regenerative medicine and cell-based therapy.
Year
DOI
Venue
2018
10.1126/scirobotics.aat8829
SCIENCE ROBOTICS
DocType
Volume
Issue
Journal
3
19
ISSN
Citations 
PageRank 
2470-9476
13
0.73
References 
Authors
0
9
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Xiaojian Li1275.53
Tao Luo2268.50
Ran Wang3216.04
Chichi Liu4130.73
Shuxun Chen5225.13
Dongfang Li6143.45
Jianbo Yue7130.73
Shuk Han Cheng812413.12
Dong Sun996687.31