Scientists have commanded a swarm of microscopic swimming robots to successfully eliminate pneumonia microbes in the lungs of mice, a technique that could lead to deadly bacterial pneumonia in humans. It is hoped that it can be treated.
The microrobots are made of algae cells and coated with a layer of antibiotic nanoparticles. Algae travels through the lungs and is therefore key to a precise and effective treatment.
In the experiment, mice treated with the algae robot disappeared from the infection, while untreated mice died within 3 days.
The technology is still in the proof-of-concept stage, but early signs are very promising.
“This mouse data suggests that microrobots can save more patients’ lives by increasing the penetration of antibiotics to kill bacterial pathogens,” said Victor Nissette, a physician and professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego. I understand,” he says.
The nanoparticles in algae cells consist of small macromolecular spheres coated with the membrane of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell. This membrane neutralizes inflammatory molecules produced by bacteria and the body’s immune system, and both nanoparticles and algae are naturally degraded.
Reduces harmful inflammation and improves infection control. Also, swimming microbots can apply treatments where they are needed, and their precision is what makes this method work so well.
Microbot therapy was also found to be more effective than intravenous antibiotics. In fact, to get the same effect in mice, they needed to inject 3,000 times more than they would into algal cells.
“These results demonstrate that targeted drug delivery combined with active movement of microalgae enhances therapeutic efficacy,” says Joseph Wang, a nanoengineer at the University of California, San Diego.
In humans, the Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia used here occurs after patients are connected to a ventilator in an intensive care unit. This infection prolongs hospital stay and often significantly increases the risk of death.
The researchers hope that the new method can be scaled up as needed and can be easily administered into the lungs of ventilated patients. ).
As a next step, the researchers plan to further explore how the microrobots interact with the immune system, scaling up the study to prepare for experiments in larger animals and even humans.
“Our goal is to selectively deliver drugs to more difficult sites, like the lungs,” says Liangfang Zhang, a chemical engineer at the University of California, San Diego. “And we want to do it in a safe, easy, biocompatible and long-lasting way.
“That’s what this work demonstrates.
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