Stevens Group Publication Introduces Next-Generation Microrobots for Targeted Therapy
Stevens Group Publication Introduces Next-Generation Microrobots for Targeted Therapy
A new collaborative study between Kavli Oxford's Stevens Group and the University of Michigan has led to the development of a next-generation class of soft microrobots—offering a major step forward in precision medicine and therapeutic delivery.
These tiny devices, called Permanent Magnetic Droplet-Derived Microrobots (PMDMs), combine high drug-loading capacity with adaptive magnetic motion control—making them ideal candidates for navigating complex environments in the human body. Using a droplet-based microfluidic approach, the microrobots are fabricated rapidly and cost-effectively, integrating a hydrogel phase for carrying medicine and a magnetic phase for remote-controlled movement.
Under dynamic magnetic fields, the PMDMs can self-assemble into flexible chains that crawl, swing, and climb over obstacles—mimicking locomotive behaviours that allow for smart navigation through realistic, tissue-like environments. They can also disassemble and reassemble on command, adapting their structure to suit different challenges.
The study published in Science Advances [https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adw3172], was led by Professor Dame Molly Stevens — Professor at the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Co-Deputy Director of the Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, and head of the Stevens Group based at the Kavli Institute — in collaboration with Professor Sharon Glotzer’s team at the University of Michigan. It used both experimental and computational methods to guide microrobot design, predict behaviour, and test performance—including trials in 3D-printed human bone models. In these models, the PMDMs were shown to transport cargo, release drugs, and be safely retrieved.
Mr Yuanxiong Cao (Stevens Group) said:
“By leveraging droplet-based microfluidics, we’ve significantly improved the fabrication efficiency of microrobots and reduced production costs. Combined with soft materials, permanent magnetization, and modular design, this platform enables microrobots that are both highly adaptable in motion and programmable in therapeutic function.”Dr Philipp Schönhöfer (Glotzer Lab, University of Michigan) added:
“Our PMDM microrobots bring together two key capabilities that were previously difficult to combine: high drug-loading capacity and precise motion control. By designing the particles with a hydrogel side for carrying medicine and a magnetic side for steering, we can load various drugs and medicines and simultaneously guide the microrobots exactly to where we need them; even through the most complex environments. With our computational platform, we have now also developed a playground to explore an even wider design space, which has already triggered ideas for more complex microrobot architectures inspired by the PMDM concept.”Dr Ruoxiao Xie, formerly of the Stevens Group and now at the University of Liverpool, said:
“Our work represents a significant step forward in microrobotics for medicine. By combining magnetic reconfigurability with high cargo capacity and adaptive locomotion, we’ve developed microrobots that can navigate complex biological environments and deliver multiple therapeutic agents (e.g. cells, drugs, nanomedicines) with precision. These microrobots are not only fast and agile, but also programmable and retrievable—key features for safe and effective clinical use. We believe this platform will accelerate the translation of microrobotic systems from the lab to various real-world medical applications, such as targeted drug delivery for cartilage disease, bowel disease, cancer and more.”Professor Dame Molly Stevens said:
“With this work, we’re moving closer towards very advanced therapeutic delivery. Our advanced fabrication techniques enable the creation of soft robotic systems with remarkable features and motion capabilities. Concepts of microrobotic drug delivery that once lived in science fiction are now being realized through new fabrication technologies. This represents an exciting glimpse into the future of 21st-century drug delivery.”
The microrobots’ modular design and programmable hydrogel properties also open possibilities for delivering multiple drugs at once or sequentially—paving the way for applications across conditions such as cancer, cartilage damage, and inflammatory diseases.
Since April 2021, Oxford University's KAVLI Institute for Nanoscience Discovery is proudly serving as a hub for research groups from seven different departments spanning both the medical and physical sciences, including Stevens Group from the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics.
