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A new wave of biomedical innovation is emerging from Nanyang Technological University, where researchers are developing millimetre- and grain-sized soft robots designed to navigate the human body. Led by Asst Prof Lum Guo Zhan and PhD student Yang Zilin, the team has pioneered ways to remotely control these tiny robots using magnetic fields, which can safely penetrate tissues without causing harm. Unlike many miniature devices that struggle with limited movement, these robots can move freely in all directions and rotate across all three axes, giving them an unprecedented level of dexterity for medical use.
The researchers have designed different types of robots to mimic nature’s efficiency. For example, one robot swims like a jellyfish through obstacles, while another gripper robot can perform delicate assembly tasks up to 20 times faster than similar devices. They have even created robots that can jump, roll, crawl, and swim through tight openings, making them especially promising for minimally invasive surgeries such as clearing blocked arteries.
One of their most exciting innovations is a grain-sized drug delivery robot made from biocompatible magnetic materials. Unlike current devices that typically carry up to three drugs, this robot can transport and release four, dispensing each precisely when triggered by specific magnetic signals. This advancement opens the door to personalised therapies for complex diseases, including cancers, where multiple treatments often need to be delivered in sequence.
Looking ahead, the team is working on integrating medical imaging and automation to further refine the accuracy and speed of these miniature machines. While still in development, these soft robots could one day transform medicine, making procedures less invasive, drug treatments more precise, and patient outcomes significantly better.
