MoSBOTs: Magnetically Driven Biotemplated MoS₂‐Based Microrobots for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Abstract2D layered molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanomaterials are a promising platform for biomedical applications, particularly due to its high biocompatibility characteristics, mechanical and electrical properties, and flexible functionalization. Additionally, the bandgap of MoS2 can be engineered to absorb light over a wide range of wavelengths, which can then be transformed into local heat for applications in photothermal tissue ablation and regeneration. However, limitations such as poor stability of aqueous dispersions and low accumulation in affected tissues impair the full realization of MoS2 for biomedical applications. To overcome such challenges, herein, multifunctional MoS2‐based magnetic helical microrobots (MoSBOTs) using cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis are proposed as biotemplate for therapeutic and biorecognition applications. The cytocompatible microrobots combine remote magnetic navigation with MoS2 photothermal activity under near‐infrared irradiation. The resulting photoabsorbent features of the MoSBOTs are exploited for targeted photothermal ablation of cancer cells and on‐the‐fly biorecognition in minimally invasive oncotherapy applications. The proposed multi‐therapeutic MoSBOTs hold considerable potential for a myriad of cancer treatment and diagnostic‐related applications, circumventing current challenges of ablative procedures.

Micro/Nanofabrication, Assembly, and Actuation Based on Microorganisms: Recent Advances and Perspectives

“…Based on film deposition techniques (e.g., electroless plating, sol-gel process, ultrasonic chemical method), the delicate shapes and structures can be directly replicated, which provides an effective way to fabricate structural monomers with diversity in geometric features and also promising properties. [68][69][70] To date, various microorganism species with typical shapes have been used for biotemplated forming, including Chlorella, [71][72][73][74] yeast, [75][76][77] bacillus, [78][79][80] Escherichia coli., [81][82][83] virus, [84][85][86][87][88] Spirulina, [89][90][91][92] and diatoms. [93][94][95][96][97] Based on microbial extracellular forming technique, a range of functional microparticles with various shapes and coating materials have been fabricated, including microspheres, microrods, microflakes, microcoils, etc.…”

“…[ 68–70 ] To date, various microorganism species with typical shapes have been used for biotemplated forming, including Chlorella , [ 71–74 ] yeast, [ 75–77 ] bacillus, [ 78–80 ] Escherichia coli. , [ 81–83 ] virus, [ 84–88 ] Spirulina , [ 89–92 ] and diatoms. [ 93–97 ] Based on microbial extracellular forming technique, a range of functional microparticles with various shapes and coating materials have been fabricated, including microspheres, microrods, microflakes, microcoils, etc.…”

3D Motion Manipulation for Micro‐ and Nanomachines: Progress and Future Directions

“…[ 54 ] For example, magnetically driven helical MNMs made of biotemplated MoS 2 were reported to be operated in the Z ‐axis when exposed to a magnetic field gradient in combination with low‐strength rotating magnetic fields, and demonstrated highly effective antitumor properties. [ 55 ] Similar to other magnetically driven MNMs systems, the velocity and trajectory of MNMs strongly depend on the frequency of the applied magnetic field. More recently, direct laser writing and e‐beam evaporation have emerged as a simple, general, and scalable method for fabricating helical swimmers capable of 3D directional motion under rotating magnetic fields.…”

Biohybrid Microalgae Robots: Design, Fabrication, Materials, and Applications

“…For example, the spring-like Spirulina platensis can be functionalized with magnetic nanoparticles and actuated via a rotating magnetic field. [70] Such ability offers them movement in complex biological medium without any additional fuel and could perform tasks ranging from cancer therapy to neural-like stem cell stimulation. [70,71] Meanwhile, the diatom is a class of microalgae with 3D anisotropic structure and a cell wall composed of SiO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , and Al 2 O 3 (named frustule).…”