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Robotics

Microrobots neutralize proinflammatory cytokines in the gut

Nature Reviews Bioengineering volume 2, page 636 (2024)Cite this article

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Actively propelled micro- and nanoscale robots enable the targeted and controlled delivery of therapies to specific tissues or cells. In particular, the active propulsion properties of bacteria or green algae can be exploited to distribute targeted micro- or nanoparticles in tissue. Now, writing in Science Robotics, Liangfang Zhang, Joseph Wang and team designed green algae-based microrobots, carrying macrophage membrane-coated nanoparticles, that can be orally administered to neutralize proinflammatory cytokines in the gastrointestinal tract for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

To target and neutralize this dynamically changing and diverse array of cytokines, the researchers designed microrobots composed of green algae and macrophage membrane-coated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles. “These microrobots can be orally delivered in a capsule, and the self-propulsion properties of the green algae enable them to move through the colon, where they can capture specific pro-inflammatory cytokines,” explains Wang.

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Original article

  • Li, Z. et al. Biohybrid microrobots regulate colonic cytokines and the epithelium barrier in inflammatory bowel disease. Sci. Robot. 9, eadl2007 (2024)

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  1. Nature Reviews Bioengineering https://www.nature.com/natrevbioeng/

    Christine-Maria Horejs

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  1. Christine-Maria Horejs
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Correspondence to Christine-Maria Horejs.

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Horejs, CM. Microrobots neutralize proinflammatory cytokines in the gut. Nat Rev Bioeng 2, 636 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44222-024-00228-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44222-024-00228-8

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