Journal
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
Volume 30, Issue 17, Pages -Publisher
WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH
DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201910323
Keywords
magnetoelectrics; microrobots; neuron cell differentiation; piezoelectrics; soft robots
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Funding
- European Research Council Consolidator Grant Highly Integrated Nanoscale Robots for Targeted Delivery to the Central Nervous System HINBOTS [771565]
- Global Research Laboratory from the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) of the Ministry of Science and ICT [NRF 2017K1A1A2013237]
- National Key Research and Development Program of China [2017YFA0701301]
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [21875101]
- European Research Council Starting Grant microCrysFact (ERC-2015-STG) [677020]
- China Scholarship Council [201504910817]
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Neurodegenerative diseases generally result in irreversible neuronal damage and neuronal death. Cell therapy shows promise as a potential treatment for these diseases. However, the therapeutic targeted delivery of these cells and the in situ provision of a suitable microenvironment for their differentiation into functional neuronal networks remain challenging. A highly integrated multifunctional soft helical microswimmer featuring targeted neuronal cell delivery, on-demand localized wireless neuronal electrostimulation, and post-delivery enzymatic degradation is introduced. The helical soft body of the microswimmer is fabricated by two-photon lithography of the photocurable gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA)-based hydrogel. The helical body is then impregnated with composite multiferroic nanoparticles displaying magnetoelectric features (MENPs). While the soft GelMA hydrogel chassis supports the cell growth, and is degraded by enzymes secreted by cells, the MENPs allow for the magnetic transportation of the bioactive chassis, and act as magnetically mediated electrostimulators of neuron-like cells. The unique combination of the materials makes these microswimmers highly integrated devices that fulfill several requirements for their future translation to clinical applications, such as cargo delivery, cell stimulation, and biodegradability. The authors envision that these devices will inspire new avenues for targeted cell therapies for traumatic injuries and diseases in the central nervous system.
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