A research group from ETH Zurich (Switzerland) has unveiled a microrobot capable of delivering medication directly to highly specific areas of the body with astonishing precision: for example, it could reach the blood clot causing a stroke. The study, published in the journal Science, facilitates the design of less invasive and more efficient treatments than those currently available.

This microrobot is shaped like a tiny capsule made of a biodegradable gel. Inside, it contains iron oxide nanoparticles that respond to magnetic fields, allowing it to be guided remotely through the bloodstream or even through complex vascular structures in the brain. Once it reaches its destination, a high-frequency magnetic field heats these nanoparticles, causing the capsule to dissolve and release the drug directly, rather than dispersing it throughout the body.

Thanks to a modular navigation system that combines three magnetic strategies, the scientific team has successfully guided the microrobot in over 95% of attempts, both in realistic vessel models and in animal experiments. This opens the door to much more precise treatments with fewer side effects: imagine dissolving clots after a stroke, treating tumors or highly localized infections, delivering the medication exactly where it’s needed.

Although clinical trials in humans are still needed, this technology, the result of collaborative work between materials science, nanotechnology, and robotics, clearly demonstrates what can be achieved when science and medicine align.