tPA-anchored nanorobots for in vivo arterial recanalization at submillimeter-scale segments

• Published in: Science advances 2024-02, Vol.10 (5), p.eadk8970
• Main Authors: Wang, Ben, Wang, Qinglong, Chan, Kai Fung, Ning, Zhipeng, Wang, Qianqian, Ji, Fengtong, Yang, Haojin, Jiang, Shuai, Zhang, Zifeng, Ip, Bonaventure Yiu Ming, Ko, Ho, Chung, Jacqueline Pui Wah, Qiu, Ming, Han, Jianguo, Chiu, Philip Wai Yan, Sung, Joseph Jao Yiu, Du, Shiwei, Leung, Thomas Wai Hong, Yu, Simon Chun Ho, Zhang, Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Applied Sciences and Engineering; Arteries; Engineering; Humans; Physical and Materials Sciences; Rabbits; SciAdv r-articles; Tissue Plasminogen Activator - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 2375-2548; 2375-2548
• DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk8970

Micro/nanorobots provide a promising approach for intravascular therapy with high precision. However, blood vessel is a highly complex system, and performing interventional therapy in those submillimeter segments remains challenging. While micro/nanorobots can enter submillimeter segments, they may still comprise nonbiodegradable parts, posing a considerable challenge for post-use removal. Here, we developed a retrievable magnetic colloidal microswarm, composed of tPA-anchored Fe O @mSiO nanorobots (tPA-nbots), to archive tPA-mediated thrombolysis under balloon catheter-assisted magnetic actuation with x-ray fluoroscopy imaging system (CMAFIS). By deploying tPA-nbot transcatheter to the vicinity of the thrombus, the tPA-nbot microswarms were magnetically actuated to the blood clot at the submillimeter vessels with high precision. After thrombolysis, the tPA-nbots can be retrieved via the CMAFIS, as demonstrated in ex vivo organ of human placenta and in vivo carotid artery of rabbit. The proposed colloidal microswarm provides a promising robotic tool with high spatial precision for enhanced thrombolysis with low side effects.