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Microrobotic transport of zygotes and gametes towards in vivo assisted fertilization

Date
Apr 21, 2022
Time
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Speaker
David Castellanos Robles
Affiliation
IFW Dresden
Language
en
Main Topic
Materialien
Host
Kristina Krummer
Description
Micromotors have great potential in biomedical applications as they can be used for drug delivery, cell transport, and microsurgery, among others. In the area of assisted reproduction, micromotors that transport zygotes and gametes within the female reproductive system will allow less harsh procedures, reducing the risk of ectopic and multiple pregnancies, and increasing pregnancy rates. However, this will require a lot of improvements of the current state of this technology. The main challenges are to improve microrobots’ biocompatibility, biodegradability, motion control, real-time bio-imaging, stimuli responsivity, payload transport, and target specificity. In this work, two ideas to address these challenges are presented. The first consists of soft hydrogel-based microrobots fabricated by droplet microfluidics with varying sizes (from 20 to 120 µm). This technique allows the embedding of materials within the micromotors, such as contrast agents or drugs. The micromotors are externally actuated by rotating magnetic fields and driven with feedback-loop control. It is shown that the contrast agents loaded into the micromotors enable their visualization by ultrasound and photoacoustics in a hybrid fashion. It is also demonstrated how these micromotors can biodegrade and deliver drugs in a controlled manner. Second, an idea to develop a new type of micromotor with a design that will allow for more efficient movement and increased functionality is presented. This micromotor can transform and adapt its shape to trap and release large payloads. It continues with the previously developed solutions, being built with biocompatible and biodegradable materials, capable of transporting drugs and contrast agents that allow real-time tracking, and cell cargo-delivery, towards their in vivo application.
Links

Last modified: Apr 12, 2022, 12:07:14 AM

Location

Leibniz Institut für Festkörper- und Werkstoffforschung Dresden (A1E.10, Hörsaal, IFW Dresden)Helmholtzstraße2001069Dresden
Homepage
http://www.ifw-dresden.de

Organizer

Leibniz Institut für Festkörper- und Werkstoffforschung DresdenHelmholtzstraße2001069Dresden
Homepage
http://www.ifw-dresden.de
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