Combination therapy is a promising approach to enhancing antitumor efficacy and overcoming multidrug resistance. Intravesical instillation of Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) combined with chemotherapy has been employed to improve bladder cancer treatment efficacy, but outcomes are often limited by high-dose drug irritation, poor patient tolerance, and insufficient targeting. To overcome these limitations, we propose a microrobot (MR)-based targeted drug delivery strategy for precise co-delivery of BCG and paclitaxel to bladder tumors, facilitating sustained drug release and minimizing off-target effects. The MRs are fabricated using a layer-by-layer assembly technique, incorporating antitumor drugs, magnetic nanoparticles, and viable BCG. Under the synergistic action of external magnetic fields and hydrogen microbubbles generated through chemical reactions, the MRs achieve targeted navigation and effective accumulation within the 3-dimensional tumor microenvironment. Subsequently, the combined chemotherapeutic and immunostimulatory effects effectively inhibit tumor progression. This approach not only minimizes off-target effects but also facilitates sustained drug release. Additionally, a wearable magnetic fixation device based on a Halbach array is employed to fixate the MRs at the targeted region, further improving drug retention and enhancing therapeutic efficacy. The experimental results demonstrate that this MR-based delivery system holds considerable potential for clinical translation into combination therapies for bladder cancer.
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Open Access
Research Article
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Open Access
Topical Review
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Micro/nano devices (MNDs) are characterized by miniaturization, high precision, and multifunctional integration, making them highly suitable for use in areas such as microrobotics, biomedical devices and electronic sensors. Their fabrication requires exceptional precision in structural integrity, material control, and functional integration. Traditional micro/nano fabrication techniques face inherent limitations in constructing complex three-dimensional (3D) architectures and integrating multiple materials. While additive manufacturing (AM) provides flexibility, challenges remain in material alignment control, microstructural organization, and multifunctional integration. To overcome these limitations, field-assisted additive manufacturing (FAM) has emerged as a promising approach that combines magnetic, acoustic, or electric fields to regulate material alignment, microstructural organization, and spatial alignment. This capability improves fabrication precision, enhances material anisotropy and facilitates functional integration. This review systematically explores the mechanisms, fabrication process, and functional integration of FAM in the framework of nozzle-based and vat photopolymerization-based, while further exploring their applications in microrobotics, biomedical devices, and electronic sensors. Moreover, this review provides a comparative overview of different FAM approaches, highlighting their respective characteristics, typical applications, and unique advantages. In addition, the major challenges facing FAM research are comprehensively assessed and future directions are explored, including advances in spatial precision control capability, intelligent control for process integration, and multi-field coupling optimization. This review establishes a foundational theoretical framework that can serve as a systematic reference for micro/nano manufacturing researchers to promote the development of FAM for high-performance micro/nano device fabrication.
Open Access
Review Article
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Soft robotics has received substantial attention due to its remarkable deformability, making it well-suited for a wide range of applications in complex environments, such as medicine, rescue operations, and exploration. Within this domain, the interaction of actuation and sensing is of utmost importance for controlling the movements and functions of soft robots. Nonetheless, current research predominantly focuses on isolated actuation and sensing capabilities, often neglecting the critical integration of these 2 domains to achieve intelligent functionality. In this review, we present a comprehensive survey of fundamental actuation strategies and multimodal actuation while also delving into advancements in proprioceptive and haptic sensing and their fusion. We emphasize the importance of integrating actuation and sensing in soft robotics, presenting 3 integration methodologies, namely, sensor surface integration, sensor internal integration, and closed-loop system integration based on sensor feedback. Furthermore, we highlight the challenges in the field and suggest compelling directions for future research. Through this comprehensive synthesis, we aim to stimulate further curiosity among researchers and contribute to the development of genuinely intelligent soft robots.
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