Sequential Magneto‐Actuated and Optics‐Triggered Biomicrorobots for Targeted Cancer Therapy

• Published in: Advanced functional materials 2021-03, Vol.31 (11), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Xing, Jiehua, Yin, Ting, Li, Shuiming, Xu, Tiantian, Ma, Aiqing, Chen, Ze, Luo, Yingmei, Lai, Zhengyu, Lv, Yingnian, Pan, Hong, Liang, Ruijing, Wu, Xinyu, Zheng, Mingbin, Cai, Lintao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: biomicrorobot; Cancer; Circulatory system; Fluorescence; Hypoxia; indocyanine green nanoparticles; Magnetic resonance imaging; magneto/optics‐conduction; magnetospirillum magneticum; Materials science; Medical imaging; Microrobots; Nanoparticles; Remote control; targeted therapy; Therapy; Tumors
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202008262

Micro/nanorobots have the potential to be remotely propelled and manipulated in complex biological fluid and organ tissue. However, the combination of the sophisticated physiological barriers, remote‐controlled navigation, real‐time motion tracking, and diagnostic/therapeutic effects are tremendous challenges for application and translation. An unique sequential magneto‐actuated and optics‐triggered biomicrorobot (AI microrobot) for actively targeted cancer treatment is prepared. The AI microrobot consists of two components, magnetospirillum magneticum (AMB‐1), providing the ability to autonomously swim toward the tumor site via internal hypoxia‐driven effects and an external applied magnetic field, and indocyanine green nanoparticles, acting as a fluorescence imaging agent and photothermal therapy. The AI microrobots are tracked in vivo by fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging. It is found that the AI microrobots can sequentially migrate to the hypoxic internal area of tumors and then effectively eradicate solid tumors through photothermal therapy under NIR laser irradiation. The sequential magneto‐actuated and optics‐triggered AI microrobots platform described here presents a bioinspired strategy toward remotely controlled propulsion, actively targeted cargo delivery, and satisfactory therapeutic performance in the circulatory system. Biohybrid AI microrobots, composed of magnetospirillum magneticum and indocyanine green nanoparticles, exhibit sequential magneto/optics‐conducted capability. Tracked with NIRF/MRI imaging, AI microrobots can also be accurately manipulated via magnetic field to hard‐to‐access diseases at one microscale level. Finally, an on‐demand opto‐control switch to eradicate the tumor without side effects is engineered.