Researchers Create Tiny Robots Capable of Delivering Multiple Drugs

Researchers at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) revealed a grain-of-rice-sized tiny robots capable of precisely delivering drugs precisely within the human body in a noninvasive treatment option with fewer side effects.

Inspired by nature, this tiny robot can be engineered to carry different medications and target specific areas. Shifting Towards Non-Invasive Medicine

The development, led by NTU’s School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, promises to transform drug delivery through noninvasive, controlled administration with pinpoint accuracy.

The tiny robot, crafted by biocompatible polymers and magnetic particles, is designed to maneuver complex areas of the body. Its construction allows smooth movement through narrow passages and across diverse surfaces, making this a valuable tool for delivering medication to previously unreachable areas.

Recent tests proved that this medication robot can move at speeds between 0.3 mm and 16.5 mm per second, ensuring precise delivery in difficult conditions.

“This could be the beginning of medical advancements and a new way to deliver medicine where patients would benefit by having fewer side effects because the drugs would only go to where they are needed,” said Assistant Professor Lum Guo Zhan, NTU leader of the project.

Inspired by science fiction concepts like in the film Fantastic Voyage, the team intends to make targeted drug delivery safe and reliable.

What the Future Holds for the Tiny Robot

In the future medical advancement, such as the tiny robot may replace catheters or wires that are being used in less invasive procedures.

“They allow independent navigation through the blood vessels for prolonged delivery without the need for invasive procedures,” said Dr Yeo Leong Litt Leonard, a neurosurgeon at National University Hospital in Singapore.

The NTU team is conducting further tests in simulated environments that closely mimic human physiology to minimize medical side effects. They are improving the technology to support targeted treatments for a range of conditions, with their point-of-focus being different types of cancer. With further development, NTU’s tiny robot could be game-changing in drug delivery-opening up new avenues to less-invasive treatments and improving patient outcomes throughout healthcare

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