A bizarre new invention allows 3D-printed 'microfish' to travel through the bloodstream to deliver medicine and clear out toxins.
It sounds stranger than science fiction, but researchers at the University of California want to inject medical “microfish” robots into peoples’ bloodstreams to clear up toxins and deliver medicine internally. According to a report from Tech Crunch, scientists have figured out how to 3D-print the tiny robots using various materials that interact with their environments.
The robots contain nanoparticles that can be used to directly inject chemicals into cells and tissues, which could revolutionize the way doctors administer medicine to patients. The custom-printed microbots are equipped with functional nanoparticles that use platinum to react with hydrogen peroxide, thrusting the robot forward. They also use magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in the front to steer the robots through the blood.
The robots could make up a part of new-and-improved drug delivery systems. They can remove toxins from the water with polydiacetylene (PDA) nanoparticles, which capture toxins similar to the ones found in bee’s venom. The swimming fish robots grabbed and neutralized toxins faster and more efficiently than other normal chemical means.
The tiny fish robots can cover a significant amount of area by swimming throughout the blood stream, and doctors may one day be able to locally inject the nanobots to perform specific functions without being too invasive. It will be years before the technology is ready for widespread use, but it is an exciting step forward in the ever-changing field of nanotechnology.