Spatially selective delivery of living magnetic microrobots through torque-focusing

Nima Mirkhani, Michael G. Christiansen, Tinotenda Gwisai, Stefano Menghini and Simone Schuerle ()
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Nima Mirkhani: ETH Zurich
Michael G. Christiansen: ETH Zurich
Tinotenda Gwisai: ETH Zurich
Stefano Menghini: ETH Zurich
Simone Schuerle: ETH Zurich

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract Rotating magnetic fields enable biomedical microrobots to overcome physiological barriers and promote extravasation and accumulation in tumors. Nevertheless, targeting deeply situated tumors requires suppression of off-target actuation in healthy tissue. Here, we investigate a control strategy for applying spatially selective torque density to microrobots by combining rotating fields with magnetostatic selection fields. Taking magnetotactic bacteria as diffuse torque-based actuators, we numerically model off-target torque suppression, indicating the feasibility of centimeter to millimeter resolution for human applications. We study focal torque application in vitro, observing off-target suppression of actuation-dependent effects such as colonization of bacteria in tumor spheroids. We then design and construct a mouse-scale torque-focusing apparatus capable of maneuvering the focal point. Applying this system to a mouse tumor model increased accumulation of intravenously injected bacteria within tumors receiving focused actuation compared to non-actuated or globally actuated groups. This control scheme combines the advantages of torque-based actuation with spatial targeting.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46407-4

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