Researchers at Israel’s Tel Aviv University have created microrobots the size of a single living cell that can move using both electricity and magnetic fields to identify and capture single cells, allowing them to capture vast numbers of Opened the door to applications.
Inspired by biological “swimmers” such as bacteria and sperm, researchers have developed microrobots (approximately 10 microns in diameter) capable of moving around their bodies either autonomously or under the control of an operator. Did.
Using magnetic fields to propel microrobots, also called micromotors, has been fascinating. It does not require direct contact between fuels or magnets and body tissue, can be precisely steered, and can function over a wide range of temperatures and solution conductivities. Electric micromotors offer advantages such as selective cargo loading, transport, and release, and the ability to use electricity to “transform” cells, but they also have some drawbacks. So combining the two was no easy feat.
“So far, microrobots that operate based on electrical induction mechanisms have been ineffective in certain environments characterized by relatively high electrical conductivity, such as physiological environments where electrical drive is not very effective.” says Gilad Yossifon. of research. “This is where complementary magnetic mechanisms come into play that are very effective regardless of the conductivity of the environment.”
Once the hybrid propulsion system was assembled, researchers were able to demonstrate the capabilities of the microrobot. They use it to capture single red blood cells, cancer cells, and single bacteria, allowing microrobots to detect healthy cells and cells that have been damaged by drugs or dying cells. We have demonstrated that it is possible to distinguish between cells that are A natural “suicide” process (apoptosis). Captured cells can be transferred to an external instrument for further analysis.
However, the advantage of hybrid micro-robots is their ability to sense and capture the state of unlabeled cells. This is the first study to perform microrobot-based sensing of label-free apoptotic cells.
“Our new development significantly advances the technology in two major aspects: hybrid propulsion and navigation by two different mechanisms, electric and magnetic,” said Yossifon. “Furthermore, microrobots have an improved ability to identify and capture single cells without the need for tagging, allowing for local testing and retrieval and transport to external equipment.”
Microrobots have been tested outside the human body, but researchers hope to be able to test them soon livegiven the wide range of application possibilities.
“Among other things, this technology will support the following areas: medical diagnostics at the single-cell level, introduction of drugs or genes into cells, gene editing, delivery of drugs to their destination in the body, decontamination from contaminating particles. Environmental cleanup, drug development, and building a ‘particle lab,'” Josifon said.
The study was published in a journal advanced science.
In the video below, researchers talk about how hybrid microrobots work and their potential applications.
hybrid micro robot
Source: Tel Aviv University
