ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → Nanotechnology

Remote-controlled microrobots could be the future of medicine

Tiny robots might soon replace invasive surgery.

Tyler MacDonaldbyTyler MacDonald
July 25, 2016
in Health, Inventions, Nanotechnology, Science, Technology
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

One of the primary goals in the modern medical field is to create microrobots that can enter the human body and replace invasive and complicated surgery procedures. These robots could optimize the field of medicine by giving scientists and doctors the ability to deliver drugs at specific locations and perform precise operations.

Image credit Pixabay
Image credit Pixabay

Along with researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ), scientists from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have created such devices. The team created soft, flexible and motor-less microrobots that mimic the Trypanosoma brucei bacterium. The unique devices are composed of biocompatible hydrogel and magnetic nanoparticles that give them their unique shape and allow them to move and swim in the presence of an electromagnetic field.

The team begins the manufacturing process by placing nanoparticles inside layers of a biocompatible hydrogel. Afterwards, they apply an electromagnetic field, which results in the orientation of the nanoparticles at different regions of the robot.

Polymerization follows in order to “solidify” the composition of the hydrogel and the robot is then placed in water, where it folds into a unique shape that is dependent on the orientation of the nanoparticles inside of the gel. The final form represents the 3D architecture of the microrobot.

After the final step of the manufacturing process, these microrobots can be exposed to an electromagnetic field to make them swim or to heat to cause them to change shape and unfold. Ultimately, the final product – which possesses a bacterium-like flagellum – mirrors the T. brucei bacterium that is responsible for causing sleeping sickness.

“We show that both a bacterium’s body and its flagellum play an important role in its movement,” said Selman Sakar of the EPFL and co-author of the study. “Our new production method lets us test an array of shapes and combinations to obtain the best motion capability for a given task. Our research also provides valuable insight into how bacteria move inside the human body and adapt to changes in their microenvironment.”

Much more research is still needed until these microrobots are ready to traverse the human body to determine any potential side effects, but the promise and benefits that they could bring to the field of medicine is immense.

Journal Reference: Soft micromachines with programmable motility and morphology. 25 July 2016. 10.1038/ncomms12263

RelatedPosts

Microwave technique makes bread last for 120 days, without chemical or other preservatives
Researchers develop new bandage that senses and treats drug-resistant bacteria
Why kids hate broccoli: a foul combination with oral bacteria
Sanitizing homes gets rids of bacteria but makes room for fungi
Tags: bacteriabacteriumHealth & MedicineMicrorobotsnanotechnologysurgery

ShareTweetShare
Tyler MacDonald

Tyler MacDonald

Psychology major and writer with an interest in all things science.

Related Posts

A unique eye accessory
Health

Miracle surgery: Doctors remove a hard-to-reach spinal tumor through the eye of a patient

byRupendra Brahambhatt
6 days ago
Biology

Scientists put nanotattoos on frozen tardigrades and that could be a big deal

byMihai Andrei
2 weeks ago
Biology

The secret to making plant-based milk tastier and healthier: bacteria

byAlexandra Gerea
1 month ago
News

The Weekend Effect: Do Friday Surgeries Really Carry More Risk?

byTudor Tarita
2 months ago

Recent news

A Massive Brain Study Reveals the Hidden Work Your Mind Does While You Read

May 14, 2025

Scientists Create “Bait” to Lure Baby Corals Back to Dying Reefs

May 14, 2025

A Nearby Star Sings a Stellar Tune, and Scientists can Hear Its Age

May 14, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.