Researchers from the University of Michigan in the United States and the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom have developed microscopic robots capable of delivering drugs with remarkable precision to targeted sites within the human body.
In a joint study, the teams highlighted that these microrobots can move in multiple ways—including crawling, walking, and swinging—allowing them to navigate efficiently through complex biological environments.
The robots are designed as two-sided particles, with one side composed of hydrogel that can carry drugs or cells, and the other embedded with magnetic nanoparticles that enable control by an external magnetic field.
The technology has already been tested in models simulating clinical applications. For example, the robots successfully delivered a therapeutic dye to a 3D-printed knee joint, demonstrating both accuracy and speed in reaching their target. Importantly, the robots can be retrieved after completing their task, paving the way for safe and repeatable medical use.
Beyond drug delivery, experiments have shown that the microrobots can disassemble and reassemble as needed, opening up possibilities for flexible robotic systems that adapt to the body’s intricate environments. Future applications may include diagnostic functions, such as collecting samples from specific sites or carrying biosensors to detect disease markers. They may also play a role in regenerative medicine by transporting stem cells or growth factors directly to damaged tissues.
Dr. Molly Stevens, a co-author of the study from Oxford’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering, described the development as “a breakthrough in targeted drug delivery,” noting that these microrobots are capable of navigating complex biological systems like the intestines with high precision and reduced side effects.
According to the researchers, this technology could transform personalised medicine by improving treatments for chronic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, and localised infections. By enabling precise delivery of multiple drugs to different areas, the microrobots may reduce overall drug exposure, minimise side effects, and lower the need for surgery or prolonged hospital stays—ultimately cutting healthcare costs.
Microrobots are emerging as one of the most promising frontiers in medicine, offering remote-controlled, minimally invasive tools to deliver therapies directly where they are needed most.
