Piezoelectric materials-based magnetically driven microrobots for targeted cell therapy

Piezoelectric materials can generate transient surface charge variations when subject to mechanical deformation, such as vibration induced by ultrasonic waves. This unique feature makes these materials ideal candidates for cell stimulation, because electrical cues can regulate the growth of cells. Hence, Micro-and nanodevices integrating piezoelectric building blocks are promising platforms for wirelessly inducing tissue regeneration.

Microrobots are emerging candidates for the targeted delivery of therapeutic interventions. The advantage of these microdevices over other small-scale therapeutic delivery systems is their controlled locomotion and thus, accurate targeting ability.

In this presentation, I will show recent studies of microrobots integrated with piezoelectric materials for targeted cell therapy. Neuron-like cells were selected as models to study the applicability of piezoelectric materials. Piezoelectric materials, such as PVDF, and magnetoelectric materials, such as CoFe₂O₄@BiFeO₃ and CoFe₂O₄@BaTiO₃ nanoparticles, were integrated with bio-inspired helical microrobots, soft porous microrobots, and even cell-based microrobots, to demonstrate the applicability of these devices. We found that piezoelectric or magnetoelectric stimulation on neurite generation in neuron-like cells was comparable to the stimulation induced by neuronal growth factor (NGF). The marriage of piezoelectric materials with magnetically driven microrobots holds great promise for the development of non-invasive tissue regenerative devices.