Abstract
Miniature untethered medical robots have been receiving growing attention due to technological advances in microactuation, microsensors, and microfabrication and have significant potential to reduce the invasiveness and improve the accessibility of medical devices into unprecedented small spaces inside the human body. In this review, we discuss therapeutic and diagnostic applications of untethered medical microrobots. Wirelessly controlled milli/microrobots with integrated sensors are revolutionizing micromanipulation based medical interventions and are enabling doctors to perform minimally invasive procedures not possible before. 3D fabrication technologies enabling milli/microrobot fabrication at the single cell scale are empowering high-resolution visual imaging and in vivo manipulation capabilities. Swallowable millirobots and injectabale ocular microrobots allow the gastric ulcer imaging, and performance of vitreoretinal microsurgery at previously inaccessible ocular sites. Many invasive excision and incision based diagnostic biopsy, prostrate, and nephrolgical procedures can be performed minimally or almost noninvasively due to recent advancements in microrobotic technology. Advances in biohybrid microrobot systems are pushing microrobotic systems even smaller, using biological cells as on-board microactuators and microsensors using the chemical energy. Such microrobotic systems could be used for local targeted delivery of imaging contrast agents, drugs, genes, and mRNA, minimally invasive surgery, and cell micromanipulation in the near future.
Keywords: Microrobots, theranostic, drug delivery, minimally invasive surgery, micromanipulation.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Targeted Drug Delivery and Imaging Using Mobile Milli/Microrobots: A Promising Future Towards Theranostic Pharmaceutical Design
Volume: 22 Issue: 11
Author(s): Ajay Vikram Singh and Metin Sitti
Affiliation:
Keywords: Microrobots, theranostic, drug delivery, minimally invasive surgery, micromanipulation.
Abstract: Miniature untethered medical robots have been receiving growing attention due to technological advances in microactuation, microsensors, and microfabrication and have significant potential to reduce the invasiveness and improve the accessibility of medical devices into unprecedented small spaces inside the human body. In this review, we discuss therapeutic and diagnostic applications of untethered medical microrobots. Wirelessly controlled milli/microrobots with integrated sensors are revolutionizing micromanipulation based medical interventions and are enabling doctors to perform minimally invasive procedures not possible before. 3D fabrication technologies enabling milli/microrobot fabrication at the single cell scale are empowering high-resolution visual imaging and in vivo manipulation capabilities. Swallowable millirobots and injectabale ocular microrobots allow the gastric ulcer imaging, and performance of vitreoretinal microsurgery at previously inaccessible ocular sites. Many invasive excision and incision based diagnostic biopsy, prostrate, and nephrolgical procedures can be performed minimally or almost noninvasively due to recent advancements in microrobotic technology. Advances in biohybrid microrobot systems are pushing microrobotic systems even smaller, using biological cells as on-board microactuators and microsensors using the chemical energy. Such microrobotic systems could be used for local targeted delivery of imaging contrast agents, drugs, genes, and mRNA, minimally invasive surgery, and cell micromanipulation in the near future.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Singh Vikram Ajay and Sitti Metin, Targeted Drug Delivery and Imaging Using Mobile Milli/Microrobots: A Promising Future Towards Theranostic Pharmaceutical Design, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2016; 22 (11) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612822666151210124326
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612822666151210124326 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
CREG: A Possible Candidate for Both Prevention and Treatment of Proliferative Vascular Disease
Current Molecular Medicine Role of Vascular Progenitor Cells in Cardiovascular Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Design Development of a Chitosan-based Nanoparticle Formulation for Ophthalmic Delivery of Honokiol
Current Drug Delivery Inflammation and Immunology of the Vitreoretinal Compartment
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Drug Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema: The Evolution Continues
Current Diabetes Reviews Endothelial Dysfunction and Atherosclerosis: Focus on Novel Therapeutic Approaches
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery Stable Angina Pectoris: Current Medical Treatment
Current Pharmaceutical Design RNAi-Based Therapy in Experimental Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury. The New Targets
Current Pharmaceutical Design Toxins Targeting Voltage-Activated Ca<sup>2+</sup> Channels and their Potential Biomedical Applications
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Recent Development in Applications of Important Biopolymer Chitosan in Biomedicine, Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products
Current Tissue Engineering (Discontinued) Role of Ischemic Blood-Brain Barrier on Amyloid Plaques Development in Alzheimers Disease Brain
Current Neurovascular Research Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor: A Novel Therapeutic Target for Cardiometabolic Diseases and Related Complications
Current Medicinal Chemistry Endothelial Progenitor Cells as Potential Drug Targets
Current Drug Targets - Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Diabetic Retinopathy
Current Diabetes Reviews Urokinase-a Very Popular Cardiovascular Agent
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery Recent Patents on Emerging Therapeutics for the Treatment of Glaucoma, Age Related Macular Degeneration and Uveitis
Recent Patents on Biomedical Engineering (Discontinued) Efficient Expression and Purification of Recombinant Therapeutic Protein Candidates, Human Midkine and Pleiotrophin
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Heme Oxygenase-1 as a Target for the Design of Gene and Pharmaceutical Therapies for Autoimmune Diseases
Current Gene Therapy Impact of Omega-3 and Trans Fatty Acids on Vascular Remodeling:Opposing Roles in Cardiovascular Health
Current Enzyme Inhibition Nitric Oxide and Dietary Factors: Part II Cholesterol, Fat, Amino Acids,Proteins and Carbohydrate
Vascular Disease Prevention (Discontinued)