Magnetically Powered Immunogenic Macrophage Microrobots for Targeted Multimodal Cancer Therapy

Motile microrobots open a new realm for disease treatment. However, the concerns of possible immune elimination, targeted capability and limited therapeutic avenue of microrobots constrain its practical biomedical applications. Herein, a biogenic macrophage-based microrobot loaded with magnetic nanoparticles and bioengineered bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), capable of magnetic propulsion, tumor targeting, and multimodal cancer therapy is reported. Such cell robots preserve intrinsic properties of macrophages for tumor suppression and targeting, and bioengineered OMVs for antitumor immune regulation and fused anticancer peptides. Cell robots display efficient magnetic propulsion and directional migration in the confined space. In vivo tests show that cell robots can accumulate at the tumor site upon magnetic manipulation, coupling with tumor tropism of macrophages to greatly improve the efficacy of its multimodal therapy, including tumor inhibition of macrophages, immune stimulation, and antitumor peptides of OMVs. This technology offers an attractive avenue to design intelligent medical microrobots with remote manipulation and multifunctional therapy capabilities for practical precision treatment.

Automated summary

A biogenic macrophage-based microrobot loaded with magnetic nanoparticles and bioengineered bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) is capable of magnetic propulsion, tumor targeting, and multimodal cancer therapy. This cell robot displays efficient magnetic propulsion and directional migration in confined spaces. In vivo tests show that the cell robot can accumulate at the tumor site and greatly improve the efficacy of its multimodal therapy, offering the potential for intelligent medical microrobots with remote manipulation and multifunctional therapy capabilities for practical precision treatment.