Swiss Scientists Develop Grain-Sized Robot for Precise Drug Delivery
ZURICH, Switzerland — December 4, 2025 — Researchers in Switzerland have created a grain-sized robot designed to deliver medication precisely within the body, potentially transforming how doctors treat conditions requiring targeted drug delivery. The microrobot, developed by a team at ETH Zurich, is controlled by surgeons using magnetic fields, allowing it to navigate through blood vessels and cerebrospinal fluid to reach specific treatment sites.
The robot is housed inside a capsule made from biocompatible materials, including tantalum, which provides visibility under X-ray imaging. It contains iron oxide nanoparticles that respond to magnetic forces, enabling movement controlled by six electromagnetic coils surrounding the patient. Surgeons steer the capsule with a handheld controller, which allows intuitive navigation even against the flow of blood.
Once the capsule reaches its target, surgeons can dissolve it on command to release medication directly where it is needed. This approach aims to reduce the side effects associated with drugs that disperse throughout the body rather than concentrating on affected areas.
Bradley J. Nelson, a professor of robotics at ETH Zurich and co-author of the study published in Science, noted that the technology is in its early stages but holds promise for a wide range of medical applications. Tests conducted in pig models and silicone blood vessel replicas have shown encouraging results, and the team anticipates human clinical trials within three to five years.
The microrobot could be particularly useful in treating conditions such as aneurysms, aggressive brain cancers, and arteriovenous malformations by delivering drugs directly to tumors or abnormal tissues. This innovation represents a significant step toward less invasive and more precise surgical procedures, potentially improving patient outcomes.
The development reflects ongoing efforts to miniaturize medical tools and enhance the precision of drug delivery systems, addressing challenges posed by conventional treatments that affect the entire body and cause unwanted side effects.
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