Picoeukaryote-based biohybrid microrobots for active delivery in the kidney.

Journal: Science advances
Published Date: Jul 11, 2025

Abstract

Confined spaces in the human body pose substantial challenges for biomedical procedures. Navigating these ultrasmall environments is essential for precise drug delivery, improving treatment outcomes and reducing adverse effects. Microrobots offer a promising approach to accessing these complex microenvironments. Here, we show a biohybrid microrobot based on picoeukaryotes, engineered as a cargo carrier for active delivery in tight in vivo spaces. The microrobot exhibits strong in vitro motility through narrow two-dimensional and complex three-dimensional networks and, in vivo, achieves outstanding kidney penetration, uniform distribution, and >48-hour retention while resisting flow shear and immune clearance, with excellent biosafety. Their ability to retain functionality and sustain propulsion within the confined and complex kidney vasculatures and interstitial spaces underscore their potential for long-term, active delivery in confined biological environments. The picoeukaryote-based biohybrid microrobot system represents a major advancement in active drug delivery, especially tailored to the challenging microenvironments of the kidney.

Authors

  • Zhengxing Li
    Electric Power Research Institute, Yunnan Power Grid Co., Ltd., Kunming, Yunnan, China.
  • Dan Wang
    Guangdong Pharmaceutical University Guangzhou Guangdong China.
  • Hao Luan
    Department of Nanoengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
  • An-Yi Chang
    Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
  • Zheng Fang
    CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Dalian 116023, China.
  • Lei Sun
    1Department of Biological Engineering, Utah State University, 4105 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-4105 USA.
  • Junyi Ji
    Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
  • Wei-Ting Shen
    Department of Nanoengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
  • Yiyan Yu
    Department of Nanoengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
  • Yiyang Yan
    Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
  • Shichao Ding
    Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
  • Jiayuan Alex Zhang
    Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
  • Yichen Zhang
    National Engineering Laboratory for Video Technology, School of Electronics Engineering and Computer Science, Peking University, Beijing, China; Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen, China.
  • Yifei Peng
    Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
  • Ronnie H Fang
    Department of NanoEngineering and Chemical Engineering Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
  • Weiwei Gao
    Department of NanoEngineering , University of California, San Diego , La Jolla , California 92093 , United States.
  • Liangfang Zhang
    Department of NanoEngineering , University of California, San Diego , La Jolla , California 92093 , United States.
  • Joseph Wang
    Department of NanoEngineering , University of California, San Diego , La Jolla , California 92093 , United States.

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