HomeProjectsBiomedical Sciences and Healthcare TechnologiesBiohybrid Soft Microrobots with Rapid Endoluminal Delivery and Imaging

Biohybrid Soft Microrobots with Rapid Endoluminal Delivery and Imaging

Project Quick Facts

Principal Investigator

  • Prof. ZHANG Li

    Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering

  • Prof. SUNG Jao Yiu Joseph

    Department of Medicine and Therapeutics

  • Prof. CHIU Wai Yan Philip

    Department of Surgery

  • Funding

    Research Grants Council, Innovation and Technology Commission

  • Collaboration

    Chow Yuk Ho Technology Centre for Innovative Medicine of CUHK, Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, CUHK, T. Stone Robotics Institute of CUHK

The soft microrobots are mainly composed of stem cells (~98%) and a tiny portion of magnetic particles (~2%), possessing an elastic modulus close to the human brain tissue. The stem cells can be harvested from the host to minimize immune responses during the in vivo delivery. The project has also developed endoscopy-assisted magnetic actuation with a dual imaging system (EMADIS). Endoscope offers “express lane” for soft microrobots to avoid the direct contact with complex physiological environment.

The microrobots not only have rapid response and precise targeting capability under the magnetic field, but also show excellent adaptability to the complex surroundings by self-alternating the shape during navigation inside the body.

The technology has the potential for treating various diseases in tiny and tortuous lumens which are hard-to-reach or inaccessible by regular medical devices.

(From left) Prof. Li ZHANG, Prof. Philip CHIU and Prof. Joseph SUNG (zoom image on screen)
Endoscopy-assisted magnetic actuation with a dual imaging system (EMADIS) and stem cell microrobots

Uniqueness and Competitive Advantages:

  • First to integrate soft microrobots, endoscopy, magnetic navigation and ultrasound imaging for endoluminal delivery
  • Greatly extends the reach and functionalities of endoscopy
  • “Express lane” for soft microrobots to avoid the direct contact with complex physiological environment and bio-barriersRapid deployment of soft microrobot in tiny & tortuous lumens (~ 1 m in minutes)
The diameter of each microrobot (see red arrow) is only 100 to 500 µm

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