Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the development of clinically ready magnetic microrobots for targeted drug delivery, which represents a significant advancement in the field of precision medicine, potentially reducing systemic side effects associated with traditional drug administration methods [5][7]. Group 1: Research Development - Researchers at ETH Zurich have created a magnetic microrobot, approximately the size of a grain of sand (less than 2 mm in diameter), capable of navigating through blood vessels to deliver drugs precisely to targeted areas [5][8]. - The study highlights that about one-third of developed drugs fail to receive approval due to excessive side effects, emphasizing the need for targeted delivery systems [5][7]. Group 2: Technological Breakthroughs - The platform developed by the research team integrates three major breakthroughs: modular design, a clinical-grade navigation system, and safe biodegradable microrobots [8]. - The navigation system utilizes a dual Navion electromagnetic navigation system, providing a workspace of 20×20×20 cm with a magnetic field gradient of up to 1 T/m, ensuring stable navigation within blood vessels [8][11]. - The microrobots are made from a gelatin matrix containing iron oxide nanoparticles for magnetic response, tantalum nanoparticles for X-ray visibility, and therapeutic drugs, all of which are FDA-approved for vascular applications [8][9]. Group 3: Navigation and Drug Delivery Mechanism - The microrobots can adapt to different blood flow environments through three navigation modes: rolling on vessel walls, countercurrent navigation, and downstream navigation, achieving a 95% success rate at bifurcations [11]. - Upon reaching the target site, the microrobots release drugs in a controlled manner using a high-frequency magnetic field, ensuring that drug release is halted if the robot deviates from the target [13][15]. Group 4: Experimental Validation - Experiments in a biomimetic vascular model demonstrated that the microrobots could be accurately navigated to various branches of the middle cerebral artery, with thrombolytic demonstrations showing significant potential for treatment [15]. - Large animal studies confirmed the clinical feasibility of the technology, successfully guiding microrobots to specific arteries in pig and sheep models, indicating potential applications in the central nervous system [15][17]. Group 5: Future Implications - Although clinical applications are still in the future, this research provides a viable technical pathway for precision drug delivery, with the potential to treat conditions such as vascular occlusion, localized infections, or tumors while minimizing systemic exposure [17]. - The research team plans to consider human clinical trials as the next step in the development of this technology [17].