Design, optimization, and validation of a magnetic mother-child robot system for targeted drug delivery

Traditional untethered magnetic microrobots utilized for in vivo targeted drug delivery face challenges related to poor maneuverability and limited kinematic performance. In this study, we harness the strengths of both magnetic continuum robots (acting as “mother” units) and untethered microrobots (...

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Main Authors: Bentao Zou, Huibin Liu, Xuehao Fen, Zhizheng Gao, Zhixing Ge, Wenguang Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Materials & Design
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525002473
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author Bentao Zou
Huibin Liu
Xuehao Fen
Zhizheng Gao
Zhixing Ge
Wenguang Yang
author_facet Bentao Zou
Huibin Liu
Xuehao Fen
Zhizheng Gao
Zhixing Ge
Wenguang Yang
author_sort Bentao Zou
collection DOAJ
description Traditional untethered magnetic microrobots utilized for in vivo targeted drug delivery face challenges related to poor maneuverability and limited kinematic performance. In this study, we harness the strengths of both magnetic continuum robots (acting as “mother” units) and untethered microrobots (functioning as “child” units), refining the motion model to develop a magnetically driven mother–child robotic system. We have also enhanced the structural design of the magnetic continuum and optimized the batch fabrication process of pH-responsive hydrogel integrated with the microrobots. This design allows the child robots to be deployed by the mother unit and subsequently retrieved upon task completion. Our strategy, which aims to minimize foreign body presence and reduce side effects, was validated using an in vitro gastric model, demonstrating the feasibility and enhanced operability of this system.
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Materials & Design
spelling doaj-art-f870de7bdb8f42e89b540bc4f9e484362025-08-20T02:00:50ZengElsevierMaterials & Design0264-12752025-05-0125311382710.1016/j.matdes.2025.113827Design, optimization, and validation of a magnetic mother-child robot system for targeted drug deliveryBentao Zou0Huibin Liu1Xuehao Fen2Zhizheng Gao3Zhixing Ge4Wenguang Yang5Engineering Training Center, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, ChinaSchool of Electromechanical and Automotive Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, ChinaSchool of Electromechanical and Automotive Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, ChinaSchool of Electromechanical and Automotive Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, ChinaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 119077, SingaporeSchool of Electromechanical and Automotive Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China; Corresponding author.Traditional untethered magnetic microrobots utilized for in vivo targeted drug delivery face challenges related to poor maneuverability and limited kinematic performance. In this study, we harness the strengths of both magnetic continuum robots (acting as “mother” units) and untethered microrobots (functioning as “child” units), refining the motion model to develop a magnetically driven mother–child robotic system. We have also enhanced the structural design of the magnetic continuum and optimized the batch fabrication process of pH-responsive hydrogel integrated with the microrobots. This design allows the child robots to be deployed by the mother unit and subsequently retrieved upon task completion. Our strategy, which aims to minimize foreign body presence and reduce side effects, was validated using an in vitro gastric model, demonstrating the feasibility and enhanced operability of this system.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525002473Mother-child type robotpH responseMagneticallyTargeted drug delivery
spellingShingle Bentao Zou
Huibin Liu
Xuehao Fen
Zhizheng Gao
Zhixing Ge
Wenguang Yang
Design, optimization, and validation of a magnetic mother-child robot system for targeted drug delivery
Materials & Design
Mother-child type robot
pH response
Magnetically
Targeted drug delivery
title Design, optimization, and validation of a magnetic mother-child robot system for targeted drug delivery
title_full Design, optimization, and validation of a magnetic mother-child robot system for targeted drug delivery
title_fullStr Design, optimization, and validation of a magnetic mother-child robot system for targeted drug delivery
title_full_unstemmed Design, optimization, and validation of a magnetic mother-child robot system for targeted drug delivery
title_short Design, optimization, and validation of a magnetic mother-child robot system for targeted drug delivery
title_sort design optimization and validation of a magnetic mother child robot system for targeted drug delivery
topic Mother-child type robot
pH response
Magnetically
Targeted drug delivery
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525002473
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