Chinese scientists have created a unique technology that makes it possible to transform any object, the size of which does not exceed the size of an insect, into a moving, externally controlled micro-robot.
A group of scientists from the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has developed a simple but effective method for creating small robots by coating objects with a special “agglutinate magnetic spray” (M-spray). The magnetic coating is biocompatible and can break if necessary. This technology has great potential for applications in biomedicine.
M-spray is created on the basis of polyvinyl alcohol, gluten and iron particles and is a sticky substance that can envelop small objects and form a uniform coating with a thickness of no more than 0.25 mm. At the same time, the objects themselves do not change their shape and remain small in size.
Putting on a kind of “magnetic jacket” on small objects, scientists turn them into controlled robots that respond to changes in the magnetic field. After the spray is applied to the object, it is magnetized by a directional magnetic field. The object is then heated to harden the spray.
Scientists have now tested the M-spray while using a catheter in the human body. The applied spray made it possible to control the catheter when making sharp or smooth turns. In terms of control, the catheter performance was virtually unaffected by the fluid flow simulating blood flow. In the next phase of testing, the drug was successfully delivered to the stomach of the rabbit. Upon arrival at the destination, the M-spray shell was destroyed by the vibration of the magnetic field, and the drug entered the body.
