Swarming magnetic nanorobots bio-interfaced by heparinoid-polymer brushes for in vivo safe synergistic thrombolysis

Precision delivery of pretreated macrophage-membrane-coated Pt nanoclusters for improving Alzheimer's disease-like cognitive dysfunction induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis

Oral infection with Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a kind of pathogenic bacteria causing periodontitis, can increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cause cognitive decline. Therefore, precise intracerebral antimicrobial therapy to reduce the load of P. gingivalis in brain may serve as a potential therapeutic approach to improve AD-like cognitive impairment. A kind of nano-delivery system precisely targets bacteria in the brain through coating P. gingivalis stimulated macrophage membrane onto the surface of platinum nanoclusters (Pg-M-PtNCs). Approximate 50 nm spherical Pg-M-PtNCs demonstrate good biocompatibility and the pretreated macrophage membranes can inhibit macrophages phagocytosis and increase the adherence to bacteria. Pg-M-PtNCs can significantly inhibit the growth of P.gingivalis in vitro, and are effectively delivered and remain at the infection site in the mice brain to reduce the bacterial load and neuronal damage, and then improve the AD-like cognitive dysfunction in the chronic periodontitis mice. Platinum nanoclusters coated with P. gingivalis pretreated macrophage membrane play an important role in targeting bacteria in the brain, and effectively improve AD-like cognitive function disorder caused by P. gingivalis infection in the brain.

Reactive oxygen species responsive nanomotors for gene edited metabolic disruption and immunotherapy

While gene-editing-based tumor therapy holds promise, conventional passive-diffusion vectors face limited penetration in dense solid tumors. Here, we developed a ROS-driven gene editing nanomotor (RDN@PL), which takes hemin as the core and encapsulates CRISPR/Cas9 plasmids targeting LDHA (A glycolysis key enzyme). In tumor microenvironments, RDN@PL consumes extracellular ROS to fuel self-diffusiophoresis, achieving higher intratumoral accumulation than passive particles. Upon internalization, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) degrades RDN@PL, releasing CO and plasmids. LDHA knockout suppresses glycolysis while CO elevates mitochondrial ROS, which triggers apoptosis by disrupting metabolism and enhancing immunity. Simultaneously, extracellular ROS depletion by non-internalized nanomotors reverses immunogenic cell death (ICD) inhibition, enhancing CD8+ T cell infiltration in tumor. The Janus nanomotor enables extracellular ROS scavenging and intracellular ROS increment via HO-1-responsive cargo release and gene editing. This multi-level intervention strategy demonstrates 93.9 % tumor growth suppression in solid tumor models, providing a blueprint for engineering intelligent nanovesicles in precision oncology.

Revolutionizing anticoagulation: Nanoengineered therapies and precision medicine approaches

With the advancement of therapeutic concepts, early intervention with antithrombotic therapy for patients at potential thrombotic risk is becoming more proactive. Anticoagulant therapy, a critical component of antithrombotic treatment, thus plays a key role in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Unfortunately, existing anticoagulation treatments still face many challenges, including abnormal bleeding, allergic reactions, and drug resistance. To identify novel technologies for addressing these issues and explore the latest research developments in the field of anticoagulation, this paper reviewed the advances of anticoagulant factor-loaded nanoplatforms firstly. These systems can precisely deliver anticoagulant drugs to specific targets, improving drug bioavailability and reducing unnecessary systemic side effects. Subsequently, the paper delved into the development of anticoagulant technologies, including the advancements in biocompatible anticoagulant nanomaterials, the application of DNA origami technology, and the progress in external energy-mediated anticoagulation strategies. A common feature of these engineered anticoagulation systems is their ability to modulate the dynamic balance of anticoagulant factors in the body without relying on traditional drugs, enabling more personalized and efficient anticoagulation effects. Finally, the paper examined novel precision anticoagulation strategies that combine biomedical engineering technologies with precision anticoagulation therapy. These strategies can tailor anticoagulation treatments to the specific pathological conditions of individual patients, such as thrombin activity, thereby reducing the risk of excessive anticoagulation. In conclusion, the engineered anticoagulation therapy strategies proposed in this paper represent cutting-edge advancements in anticoagulation medicine, providing more precise and safer solutions for the treatment of thrombotic diseases, and offering important theoretical and practical guidance for future personalized medicine and precision therapies.

Rapid Blood Clot Removal via Remote Delamination and Magnetization of Clot Debris

Micro/nano-scale robotic devices are emerging as a cutting-edge approach for precision intravascular therapies, offering the potential for highly targeted drug delivery. While employing micro/nanorobotics for stroke treatment is a promising strategy due to its ability to localize therapy and minimize drug dosage, current methods require prolonged treatment durations, increasing the risk of nerve tissue necrosis from extended hypoxia. Here a programmable colloidal microswarm capable of rapidly detaching blood clots from the vessel wall is developed, enabling swift recanalization without the need for complete clot degradation. More importantly, the detached clot debris, despite their random shapes, functions as magnetic "debris-robots" and can be efficiently propelled through helical swimming within flowing vessels, followed by retrieval using catheter suction. The entire process-including catheter delivery, controlled locomotion, clot detachment, and retrieval-can be completed in approximately half an hour, significantly saving time compared to the critical "Golden 6 hours" window for stroke treatment. This retrieval procedure greatly minimizes nanoparticle exposure in the bloodstream and lowers the risk of secondary clotting in distal vessels, marking a significant advancement in robotic-assisted thrombolysis.

Thrombus Boring Microrobot Prepared by an Integrated Phase Separation and Interfacial Self-Assembly Process Toward Thrombolysis

The pathological formation of thrombi is the primary etiological factor of acute cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, accounting for one-quarter of global fatalities. Traditional thrombolytic drugs are constrained by short half-life, low utilization, and severe complications. Inspired by the tunnel boring machine to excavate strata into small rocks, we report urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA)-modified thrombus boring microrobots (uTBMs), prepared by a one-step integrated phase separation and interfacial self-assembly process, for effective thrombolysis. The uTBMs are composed of microspheres capped with dual-layered structures of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and cilia nanostructures. In situ observation reveals the integrated phase separation and interfacial self-assembly process of the uTBM within an emulsion droplet. The capped layer of MNPs allows for controllable motion and rotation behavior under the manipulation of a remote magnetic field. The uPA-modified cilia nanostructures grasp and degrade the fibrin network, synergizing with the uTBMs rotation to mechanically excavate blood cells from thrombus individually, achieving ∼8.5-fold higher thrombolytic efficacy than uPA alone. This research demonstrates the feasibility of controllably fabricating and modifying complex-structured microrobots via the simple process toward potential thrombus therapy.

Magnetite Micro/Nanorobots for Efficient Targeted Alleviation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Millions of people worldwide have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Self-driven micro/nanorobots (MNRs) are efficient in the treatment of IBD. However, their lack of controllability regarding direction of motion in the organism and their inability to achieve continuous navigation limits their further application. In this study, polydopamine is wrapped around the magnetite surface, loaded with an anti-inflammatory drug resveratrol, and wrapped with pH-responsive sodium alginate to obtain magnetic MNRs. MNRs can be driven by magnetic fields to achieve directional movement and targeted transportation. In addition, MNRs can effectively remove reactive oxygen species from the inflammation site, repair intestinal damage, inhibit the cellular pathway of pro-inflammatory factors, such as MAPK and NF-κB pathways, and restore intestinal flora, thereby relieving IBDs. MNRs are safe and effective for in vivo treatment of IBD and have proven to be a promising therapeutic platform. This MNRs therapeutic strategy provides new insights into comprehensive IBD therapy.

Bacteria Flagella-Mimicking Polymer Multilayer Magnetic Microrobots

Mass production of biomedical microrobots demands expensive and complex preparation techniques and versatile biocompatible materials. Learning from natural bacteria flagella, the study demonstrates a magnetic polymer multilayer cylindrical microrobot that bestows the controllable propulsion upon an external rotating magnetic field with uniform intensity. The magnetic microrobots are constructed by template-assisted layer-by-layer technique and subsequent functionalization of magnetic particles onto the large opening of the microrobots. Geometric variables of the polymer microrobots, such as the diameter and wall thickness, can be controlled by selection of porous template and layers of assembly. The microrobots perform controllable propulsion through the manipulation of magnetic field. The comparative analysis of the movement behavior reveals that the deformation of microrobots may be attributed to the propulsion upon rotating magnetic field, which is similar to that of natural bacteria. The influence of actuation and frequency on the velocity of the microrobots is studied. Such polymer multilayer magnetic microrobots may provide a novel concept to develop rapidly delivering drug therapeutic agents for diverse practical biomedical uses.

Active microgel particle swarms for intrabronchial targeted delivery

Intrabronchial delivery of therapeutic agents is critical to the treatment of respiratory diseases. Targeted delivery is demanded because of the off-target accumulation of drugs in normal lung tissues caused by inhalation and the limited motion dexterity of clinical bronchoscopes in tortuous bronchial trees. Herein, we developed microrobotic swarms consisting of magnetic hydrogel microparticles to achieve intrabronchial targeted delivery. Under programmed magnetic fields, the microgel particle swarms performed controllable locomotion and adaptative structure reconfiguration in tortuous and air-filled environments. The swarms were further integrated with imaging contrast agents for precise tracking under x-ray fluoroscopy and computed tomography imaging. Magnetic navigation of the swarms in an ex vivo lung phantom and in vivo delivery into deep branches of the bronchial trees were achieved. The on-demand reconfiguration of swarms for avoiding the microgel particles from entering nontarget bronchi and the precise delivery into tilted bronchi through climbing motion were validated.

Magnetic Micro/nanorobots in Cancer Theranostics: From Designed Fabrication to Diverse Applications

Cancer poses a substantial threat and a serious challenge to public human health, driving the promotion of sophisticated technologies for cancer therapy. While conventional chemotherapy has bottlenecks such as low delivery efficiency, strong toxic side effects, and tumor enrichment barriers, magnetic micro/nanorobots (MNRs) emerge as promising therapeutic candidates that provide alternative strategies for cancer therapy. MNR is a kind of human-made machine that is micro- or nanosized, is reasonably designed, and performs command tasks through self-actuated or externally controlled propulsion mechanisms, which can be potentially applied in cancer theranostics. Here, this review first introduces the components that constitute a typical magnetic MNR, including the body part, the driving part, the control part, the function part, and the sensing part. Subsequently, this review elucidates representative fabrication methods to construct magnetic MNRs from top-down approaches to bottom-up approaches, covering injection molding, self-rolling, melt electrospinning writing, deposition, biotemplate method, lithography, assembling, 3D printing, and chemical synthesis. Furthermore, this review focuses on multiple applications of magnetic MNRs facing cancer diagnosis and treatment, encompassing imaging, quantification, drug release, synergy with typical therapies, cell manipulation, and surgical assistance. Then, this review systematically elaborates on the biocompatibility and biosafety of magnetic MNRs. Finally, the challenges faced by magnetic MNRs are discussed alongside future research directions. This review is intended to provide scientific guidance that may improve the comprehension and cognition of cancer theranostics through the platform of magnetic MNRs, promoting and prospering the practical application development of magnetic MNRs.

NIR-II Fluorescent Thermophoretic Nanomotors for Superficial Tumor Photothermal Therapy

Peritumoral subcutaneous injection has been highly envisioned as an efficient yet low-risk administration of photothermal agents for superficial tumor photothermal therapy. However, obstructed by complex subcutaneous tissue, the delivery of injected photothermal agents to the specific tumor remains a critical issue. Herein, the study reports a polydopamine (PDA)-encapsulated spherical core/shell nanomotor with fluorescent indocyanine green (ICG) immobilized on its PDA shell. Upon the first near-infrared (NIR-I) irradiation, this motor can generate favorable photothermal heat, and meantime, emit a robust ICG fluorescence in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II). The heat turns the motor into an active photothermal agent able to perform thermophoretic propulsion along the irradiation direction in subcutaneous tissue, while the ICG fluorescence can direct the subcutaneous propulsion of motors toward specific tumor through real-time NIR-II imaging. These functions endow the motor with the ability of moving to tumor after being injected at peritumoral site, enabling an enhanced photothermal therapy (PTT). The results demonstrated herein suggest an integrated nanorobotic tool for the superficial PTT using peritumoral administration, highlighting an NIR-II imaging-directed subcutaneous propulsion.

Bacterial Autonomous Intelligent Microrobots for Biomedical Applications

Micro/nanorobots are being increasingly utilized as new diagnostic and therapeutic platforms in the biomedical field, enabling remote navigation to hard-to-reach tissues and the execution of various medical procedures. Although significant progress has been made in the development of biomedical micro/nanorobots, how to achieve closed-loop control of them from sensing, memory, and precise trajectory planning to feedback to carry out biomedical tasks remains a challenge. Bacteria with self-propulsion and autonomous intelligence properties are well suited to be engineered as microrobots to achieve closed-loop control for biomedical applications. By virtue of synthetic biology, bacterial microrobots possess an expanded genetic toolbox, allowing them to load input sensors to respond or remember external signals. To achieve accurate control in the complex physiological environment, the development of bacterial microrobots should be matched with the corresponding control system design. In this review, a detailed summary of the sensing and control mechanisms of bacterial microrobots is presented. The engineering and applications of bacterial microrobots in the biomedical field are highlighted. Their future directions of bacterial autonomous intelligent microrobots for precision medicine are forecasted.

Nano-/Microrobots for Environmental Remediation in the Eyes of Nanoarchitectonics: Toward Engineering on a Single-Atomic Scale

Nano-/microrobots have been demonstrated as an efficient solution for environmental remediation. Their strength lies in their propulsion abilities that allow active "on-the-fly" operation, such as pollutant detection, capture, transport, degradation, and disruption. Another advantage is their versatility, which allows the engineering of highly functional solutions for a specific application. However, the latter advantage can bring complexity to applications; versatility in dimensionality, morphology, materials, surface decorations, and other modifications has a crucial effect on the resulting propulsion abilities, compatibility with the environment, and overall functionality. Synergy between morphology, materials, and surface decorations and its projection to the overall functionality is the object of nanoarchitectonics. Here, we scrutinize the engineering of nano-/microrobots with the eyes of nanoarchitectonics: we list general concepts that help to assess the synergy and limitations of individual procedures in the fabrication processes and their projection to the operation at the macroscale. The nanoarchitectonics of nano-/microrobots is approached from microscopic level, focusing on the dimensionality and morphology, through the nanoscopic level, evaluating the influence of the decoration with nanoparticles and quantum dots, and moving to the decorations on molecular and single-atomic level to allow very fine tuning of the resulting functionality. The presented review aims to lay general concepts and provide an overview of the engineering of functional advanced nano-/microrobot for environmental remediation procedures and beyond.

The 2025 motile active matter roadmap

Activity and autonomous motion are fundamental aspects of many living and engineering systems. Here, the scale of biological agents covers a wide range, from nanomotors, cytoskeleton, and cells, to insects, fish, birds, and people. Inspired by biological active systems, various types of autonomous synthetic nano- and micromachines have been designed, which provide the basis for multifunctional, highly responsive, intelligent active materials. A major challenge for understanding and designing active matter is their inherent non-equilibrium nature due to persistent energy consumption, which invalidates equilibrium concepts such as free energy, detailed balance, and time-reversal symmetry. Furthermore, interactions in ensembles of active agents are often non-additive and non-reciprocal. An important aspect of biological agents is their ability to sense the environment, process this information, and adjust their motion accordingly. It is an important goal for the engineering of micro-robotic systems to achieve similar functionality. Many fundamental properties of motile active matter are by now reasonably well understood and under control. Thus, the ground is now prepared for the study of physical aspects and mechanisms of motion in complex environments, the behavior of systems with new physical features like chirality, the development of novel micromachines and microbots, the emergent collective behavior and swarming of intelligent self-propelled particles, and particular features of microbial systems. The vast complexity of phenomena and mechanisms involved in the self-organization and dynamics of motile active matter poses major challenges, which can only be addressed by a truly interdisciplinary effort involving scientists from biology, chemistry, ecology, engineering, mathematics, and physics. The 2025 motile active matter roadmap of Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter reviews the current state of the art of the field and provides guidance for further progress in this fascinating research area.

Large Language Model-Assisted Genotoxic Metal-Phenolic Nanoplatform for Osteosarcoma Therapy

Osteosarcoma, a leading primary bone malignancy in children and adolescents, is associated with a poor prognosis and a low global fertility rate. A large language model-assisted phenolic network (LLMPN) platform is demonstrated that integrates the large language model (LLM) GPT-4 into the design of multifunctional metal-phenolic network materials. Fine-tuned GPT-4 identified gossypol as a phenolic compound with superior efficacy against osteosarcoma after evaluating across a library of 60 polyphenols based on the correlation between experimental anti-osteosarcoma activity and multiplexed chemical properties of polyphenols. Subsequently, gossypol is then self-assembled into Cu2+-gossypol nanocomplexes with a hyaluronic acid surface modification (CuGOS NPs). CuGOS NPs has demonstrated the ability to induce genetic alterations and cell death in osteosarcoma cells, offering significant therapeutic benefits for primary osteosarcoma tumors and reducing metastasis without adverse effects on major organs or the genital system. This work presents an LLM-driven approach for engineering metal-organic nanoplatform and broadening applications by harnessing the capabilities of LLMs, thereby improving the feasibility and efficiency of research activities.

Cilia-Mimic Locomotion of Magnetic Colloidal Collectives Enhanced by Low-Intensity Ultrasound for Thrombolytic Drug Penetration

Rapid thrombolysis is very important to reduce complications caused by vascular blockage. A promising approach for improving thrombolysis efficiency is utilizing the permanent magnetically actuated locomotion of nanorobots. However, the thrombolytic drug transportation efficiency is challenged by in-plane rotating locomotion and the insufficient drug penetration limits further improvement of thrombolysis. Inspired by ciliary movement for cargo transportation in human body, in this study, cilia-mimic locomotion of magnetic colloidal collectives is realized under torque-force vortex magnetic field (TFV-MF) by a designed rotating permanent magnet assembly. This cilia-mimic locomotion mode can generate more disturbances to the fluids to improve thrombolytic drug transportation and the increased height and area of colloidal collectives boosted the imaging capability. In addition, low-intensity ultrasound is applied to enhance colloids infiltration by producing the fiber breakage and inducing erythrocyte deformation. In vitro thrombolytic experiments demonstrate that the thrombolysis efficiency increased by 16.2 times compared with that of pure tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) treatments. Furthermore, in vivo rat models of femoral vein thrombosis confirmed that this approach can achieve blood flow recanalization more quickly. The proposed cilia-mimic locomotion of magnetic colloidal collectives combined with low-intensity ultrasound irradiation mode provides a new insight of therapeutic interventions for vascular thrombus by enhancing drug penetration.

Matrix vesicle-inspired delivery system based on nanofibrous chitosan microspheres for enhanced bone regeneration

Inspired by the initial mineralization process with bone matrix vesicles (MVs), this study innovatively developed a delivery system to mediate mineralization during bone regeneration. The system comprises nanofibrous chitosan microspheres (NCM) and poly (allylamine hydrochloride)-stabilized amorphous calcium phosphate (PAH-ACP), which is thereafter referred to as NCMP. NCM is synthesized through the thermal induction of chitosan molecular chains, serving as the carrier, while PAH-ACP functions as the mineralization precursor. Additionally, the nanofibrous network of NCMP mimics the architecture of natural extracellular matrix (ECM), creating an optimal niche for the active adhesion of stem cells to its surface, exhibiting good biocompatibility, immunoregulation, and osteogenic performance. In vivo, NCMP effectively recruits cells and mineralizes collagen, modulates cell behavior and differentiation, and promotes in situ biomineralization in rat calvarial defects. These results underscore the dual efficacy of NCMP not only as an effective delivery system for mineralization precursors but also as ECM-mimicking bio-blocks, offering a promising avenue for enhancing the repair and regeneration of bone defects.

Biomimetic Extracellular Vesicles Containing Biominerals for Targeted Osteoporosis Therapy

Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by decreased bone mineral density and a heightened risk of fractures. Therapies for OP have primarily focused on balancing bone formation and bone resorption, but enhancing the remineralization of osteoporotic bone is also a key strategy for effective repair. Recent insights into biomineralization mechanisms have highlighted the essential role of mineral-containing extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by osteoblasts in promoting bone marrow mesenchymal stromal/stem cell (BMSC) differentiation and initiating matrix mineralization. Drawing from these principles, we developed a biomimetic approach to replicate the structure and function of the osteoblast-derived EVs by engineering biomimetic mitochondrial minerals with bone marrow homing cell membranes (CMs). This bone-targeted biomimetic system exhibits excellent biocompatibility, enhancing osteogenic differentiation and stimulating angiogenesis by regulating cellular energy metabolism. Additionally, the CM-coated structure shows affinity for collagen fibrils, effectively enhancing intrafibrillar collagen mineralization, thereby facilitating osteoporotic bone repair. Overall, the biomimetic system offers a safe and efficient therapeutic alternative, positioning it as a platform for bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Magneto-Thermal Hydrogel Swarms for Targeted Lesion Sealing

Magnetic microswarms capable of performing navigation to targeted lesions show great potential for in vivo medical applications. However, using the swarms for lesion cavity filling encounters challenges from precise delivery and sealing. Herein, this work develops a magneto-thermal hydrogel swarm consisting of magnetic hydrogel particles, which can perform phase transition induced by temperature change. The particles are prepared using a temperature-responsive hydrogel matrix, tissue adhesive monomers, and magnetic microparticles. The swarms can be remolded to various shapes, and it can be used to seal perforation in phantom and gastric tissue. The swarms can also serve as drug carriers, and their drug release profiles induced by temperature changes are characterized. Finally, the targeted delivery, adaptive filling, and sealing of a gastric ulcer using the swarms are achieved in ex vivo and in vivo environments.

The role of nanomaterials in revolutionizing ischemic stroke treatment: Current trends and future prospects

Ischemic stroke has a high disability rate, which leads to irreversible neuronal death. The efficacy of conventional stroke treatments, including thrombolytic and neuroprotective therapies, is constrained by a number of factors, including safety concerns and inefficient drug delivery. The advent of nanomaterials has created new avenues for stroke therapy, facilitating enhanced pharmacokinetic behavior of drugs, effective drug accumulation at the target site, augmented therapeutic efficacy, and concomitant reduction in side effects. Therefore, this paper pioneers a research approach that summarized the development trend and clinical value of nanomaterials in the field of ischemic stroke through bibliometric analysis. This review provides an overview of the pathophysiological mechanisms of stroke and examines the current research trends in the use of nanomaterials in stroke management. It encompasses a multitude of domains, including targeted drug delivery systems, biosensors for the sensitive detection of biomarkers, and neuroprotective nanotechnologies capable of traversing the blood-brain barrier. Moreover, we investigate the challenges that nanomaterials encounter in the clinical translation context, including those pertaining to biocompatibility and long-term safety. These results have provided the clinical value and limitations of nanomaterials in the diagnosis and treatment of ischemic stroke from double perspectives, thereby offering new avenues for the further development of innovative nanotherapeutic tools.

Nanorobot Swarms Made with Laser-Induced Graphene@Fe3O4 Nanoparticles with Controllable Morphology for Targeted Drug Delivery

Magnetic nanorobot swarms can mimic group behaviors in nature and can be flexibly controlled by programmable magnetic fields, thereby having great potential in various applications. This paper presents a novel approach for the rapid and large-scale processing of laser-induced graphene (LIG) @Fe3O4-based-nanorobot swarms utilizing one-step UV laser processing technology. The swarm is capable of forming a variety of reversible morphologies under the magnetic field, including vortex-like and strip-like, as well as the interconversion of these, demonstrating high levels of controllability and flexibility. Moreover, the maximum forward motion speed of the nanorobot swarm is up to 2165 μm/s, and the drug loading and release ability of such a nanorobot swarm is enhanced about 50 times due to the presence of graphene, enabling the nanorobot swarm to show rapid and precise targeted drug delivery. Importantly, by controllable morphology transformation to conform to the complicated requirements for the magnetic field, the drug-loaded swarm can smoothly pass through a width-varying zigzag channel while maintaining 96% of the initial drug-loading, demonstrating that LIG @Fe3O4 NPs-based nanorobot swarm can provide effective and controllable targeted drug delivery in complex passages.

Amoeba-Inspired Soft Robot for Integrated Tumor/Infection Therapy and Painless Postoperative Drainage

Tumor recurrence and wound infection are devastating complications of wide excision surgery for melanoma, and deep postoperative wound drainage typically increases pain. An amoeba-inspired magnetic soft robot (ASR) with switchable dormant and active phases is developed to address the aforementioned challenges. The dormant ASR supports wounds through its solid-like elasticity and regulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels bidirectionally, promoting healing in infected wounds and eliminating residual tumors. It solves the challenge caused by the contradictory need for ROS scavenging in wound healing and ROS amplification in tumor/infection management. The active ASR removes absorbed wound exudate by crawling out from irregular wounds; interestingly, this crawling motion prevents damage to fragile tissues and alleviates wound pain via "non-direct friction." More importantly, ASR switches different states in response to an alternating magnetic field owing to its magnetothermal properties, and this process also exerts synergistic antitumor and bacteriostatic effects. Due to the appropriate mechanical structure (cohesive force) of ASR, the content of magnetic nanoparticles required to drive the ASR is ten-fold lower than that of conventional magnetic soft robots, enabling in vivo degradation. These outcomes highlight the vantage of the ASR for treating post-tumor excision wounds and underscore their potential for clinical application.

Untethered & Stiffness-Tunable Ferromagnetic Liquid Robots for Cleaning Thrombus in Complex Blood Vessels

Thrombosis is a significant threat to human health. However, the existing clinical treatment methods have limitations. Magnetic soft matter is used in the biomedical field for years, and ferromagnetic liquids exhibit tunable stiffness and on-demand movement advantages under magnetic fields. In this study, a ferromagnetic liquid robot (FMLR) is developed and applied it to thrombus removal in complex blood vessels. The FMLR consisted of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles and dimethyl silicone oil. The FMLR can pass through a narrow complex maze through shape deformation by tailoring the intensity and direction of the external magnetic field. Finite element simulation analysis is used to validate the mechanism of controllable FMLR movements. Importantly, the storage modulus of FMLR can be tuned from 0.1 to 2018 Pa by varying the external magnetic intensity, ensuring its effectiveness in removing rigid and stubborn thrombi present on the vascular walls. Toward medical robotic applications, FMLR can be used in telerobotic neurointerventional. Experiments demonstrating the capability of FMLR to remove thrombi in the ear veins of rabbits are conducted. This study introduces an efficient approach for thrombus elimination, broadening the utilization of FMLRs within the realm of clinical medicine.

Dual Frequency-Regulated Magnetic Vortex Nanorobots Empower Nattokinase for Focalized Microvascular Thrombolysis

Magnetic nanorobots are emerging players in thrombolytic therapy due to their noninvasive remote actuation and drug loading capabilities. Although the nanorobots with a size under 100 nm are ideal to apply in microvascular systems, the propulsion performance of nanorobots is inevitably compromised due to the limited response to magnetic fields. Here, we demonstrate a nattokinase-loaded magnetic vortex nanorobot (NK-MNR) with an average size around 70 nm and high saturation magnetization for mechanical propelling and thermal responsive thrombolysis under a magnetic field with dual frequencies. The nanorobots are stable in suspension and undergo the magneto-steered assembly into chain-like NK-MNRs, which are regulated to generate magnetic forces to mechanically damage and penetrate the thrombus by the low-frequency rotating magnetic field. Synergistically, enhanced magnetic hyperthermia is triggered by an alternating magnetic field of high frequency, enabling heat-induced NK release and fibrinolysis. In this dual frequency-regulated magnetothrombolysis (fRMT) strategy, nanorobots collaborate under the dual magnetic energy conversion model to achieve the vasculature recanalization rate of 81.0% in thrombotic mice. Overall, the nanorobot with the special magnetic vortex property and multimodel controls is a promising nanoplatform for in vivo focalized microvascular thrombolysis.

Collective buoyancy-driven dynamics in swarming enzymatic nanomotors

Enzymatic nanomotors harvest kinetic energy through the catalysis of chemical fuels. When a drop containing nanomotors is placed in a fuel-rich environment, they assemble into ordered groups and exhibit intriguing collective behaviour akin to the bioconvection of aerobic microorganismal suspensions. This collective behaviour presents numerous advantages compared to individual nanomotors, including expanded coverage and prolonged propulsion duration. However, the physical mechanisms underlying the collective motion have yet to be fully elucidated. Our study investigates the formation of enzymatic swarms using experimental analysis and computational modelling. We show that the directional movement of enzymatic nanomotor swarms is due to their solutal buoyancy. We investigate various factors that impact the movement of nanomotor swarms, such as particle concentration, fuel concentration, fuel viscosity, and vertical confinement. We examine the effects of these factors on swarm self-organization to gain a deeper understanding. In addition, the urease catalysis reaction produces ammonia and carbon dioxide, accelerating the directional movement of active swarms in urea compared with passive ones in the same conditions. The numerical analysis agrees with the experimental findings. Our findings are crucial for the potential biomedical applications of enzymatic nanomotor swarms, ranging from enhanced diffusion in bio-fluids and targeted delivery to cancer therapy.

Self-Adaptive Magnetic Liquid Metal Microrobots Capable of Crossing Biological Barriers and Wireless Neuromodulation

Magnetic liquid-bodied microrobots (MRs) possess nearly infinite shape adaptivity. However, they currently confront the risk of structure instability/crushes during shape-morphing in tiny biological environments. This article reports that magnetic liquid metal (LM) MRs (LMMRs) show high structure stability and robust magnetic maneuverability. In this protocol, Fe nanoparticles are encapsulated inside less-than-10-μm LM microdroplets by establishing interfacial chemical potential barriers, yielding LMMRs. Their robust magnetic maneuverability originates from the magnetically controlled assembly of Fe nanoparticles inside LM and distinct liquid-solid interaction. With the self-adaptive shape-recovering capabilities even after 50% deformation, LMMRs can implement vertical climbing over walls up to 400% of its body length and traverse channels with the size of its two-thirds. The in vitro and in vivo experiments have both verified the effective magneto-mechanical stimulation of LMMRs upon neurons after their shape-adaptive crossing the blood-brain barrier under a driven magnetic field. Our work provides a promising strategy for wireless therapies with MRs by safely and effectively overcoming biological barriers.

Magnetic-chemotactic hybrid microrobots with precise remote targeting capability

Micro/nanorobots (MNRs) hold great promise for various applications due to their capability to execute complex tasks in hard-to-reach micro/nano cavities. However, the developed magnetic MNRs, as marionettes of external magnetic fields, lack built-in intelligence for self-targeting, while chemotactic MNRs suffer from limited self-targeting range. Here, we demonstrate magnetic-chemotactic ZnO/Fe-Ag Janus microrobots (JMRs) capable of rapid, remote self-targeting for bacterial elimination. The JMRs utilize the magnetic Fe engine for coarse navigation from a distance, allowing for external control to swiftly guide them to the vicinity of a hidden/uncharted target that establishes a local chemical gradient ([CO2] or [H+] gradient). Once in proximity, the inherent chemotaxis of the JMRs takes over, the chemotactic engine enables them to autonomously accumulate at the target site along the chemical gradient in high precision. Upon reaching the target, the ZnO/Fe-Ag JMRs can release Zn2+ and Ag+ to eliminate bacteria residing there. The proposed strategy of integrating on-board chemotaxis with external magnetic field-driven propulsion paves the way for efficient precise therapies using MNRs, especially in targeted drug/energy delivery involving remote hidden or uncharted targets.

Endothelium-Mimicking Materials: A "Rising Star" for Antithrombosis

The advancement of antithrombotic materials has significantly mitigated the thrombosis issue in clinical applications involving various medical implants. Extensive research has been dedicated over the past few decades to developing blood-contacting materials with complete resistance to thrombosis. However, despite these advancements, the risk of thrombosis and other complications persists when these materials are implanted in the human body. Consequently, the modification and enhancement of antithrombotic materials remain pivotal in 21st-century hemocompatibility studies. Previous research indicates that the healthy endothelial cells (ECs) layer is uniquely compatible with blood. Inspired by bionics, scientists have initiated the development of materials that emulate the hemocompatible properties of ECs by replicating their diverse antithrombotic mechanisms. This review elucidates the antithrombotic mechanisms of ECs and examines the endothelium-mimicking materials developed through single, dual-functional and multifunctional strategies, focusing on nitric oxide release, fibrinolytic function, glycosaminoglycan modification, and surface topography modification. These materials have demonstrated outstanding antithrombotic performance. Finally, the review outlines potential future research directions in this dynamic field, aiming to advance the development of antithrombotic materials.

Biocompatible polymer-based micro/nanorobots for theranostic translational applications

Recently, micro/nanorobots (MNRs) with self-propulsion have emerged as a promising smart platform for diagnostic, therapeutic and theranostic applications. Especially, polymer-based MNRs have attracted huge attention due to their inherent biocompatibility and versatility, making them actively explored for various medical applications. As the translation of MNRs from laboratory to clinical settings is imperative, the use of appropriate polymers for MNRs is a key strategy, which can prompt the advancement of MNRs to the next phase. In this review, we describe the multifunctional versatile polymers in MNRs, and their biodegradability, motion control, cargo loading and release, adhesion, and other characteristics. After that, we review the theranostic applications of polymer-based MNRs to bioimaging, biosensing, drug delivery, and tissue engineering. Furthermore, we address the challenges that must be overcome to facilitate the translational development of polymeric MNRs with future perspectives. This review would provide valuable insights into the state-of-the-art technologies associated with polymeric MNRs and contribute to their progression for further clinical development.

Harnessing Disparities in Magnetic Microswarms: From Construction to Collaborative Tasks

Individual differences in size, experience, and task specialization in natural swarms often result in heterogeneity and hierarchy, facilitating efficient and coordinated task accomplishment. Drawing inspiration from this phenomenon, a general strategy is proposed for organizing magnetic micro/nanorobots (MNRs) with apparent differences in size, shape, and properties into cohesive microswarms with tunable heterogeneity, controlled spatial hierarchy, and collaborative tasking capability. In this strategy, disparate magnetic MNRs can be manipulated to show reversible transitions between synchronization and desynchronization by elaborately regulating parameter sets of the rotating magnetic field. Utilizing these transitions, alongside local robust hydrodynamic interactions, diverse heterospecific pairings of disparate magnetic MNRs can be organized into heterogeneous microswarms, and their spatial organization can be dynamically adjusted from egalitarian to leader-follower-like hierarchies on the fly, both in open space and complex microchannels. Furthermore, when specializing the disparate MNRs with distinct functions ("division of labor") such as sensing and drug carrying, they can execute precise drug delivery targeting unknown sites in a collaborative sensing-navigating-cargo dropping sequence, demonstrating significant potential for precise tumor treatment. These findings highlight the critical roles of attribute differences and hierarchical organization in designing efficient swarming micro/nanorobots for biomedical applications.

Recent advances in the development of tumor microenvironment-activatable nanomotors for deep tumor penetration

Cancer represents a significant threat to human health, with the use of traditional chemotherapy drugs being limited by their harsh side effects. Tumor-targeted nanocarriers have emerged as a promising solution to this problem, as they can deliver drugs directly to the tumor site, improving drug effectiveness and reducing adverse effects. However, the efficacy of most nanomedicines is hindered by poor penetration into solid tumors. Nanomotors, capable of converting various forms of energy into mechanical energy for self-propelled movement, offer a potential solution for enhancing drug delivery to deep tumor regions. External force-driven nanomotors, such as those powered by magnetic fields or ultrasound, provide precise control but often necessitate bulky and costly external equipment. Bio-driven nanomotors, propelled by sperm, macrophages, or bacteria, utilize biological molecules for self-propulsion and are well-suited to the physiological environment. However, they are constrained by limited lifespan, inadequate speed, and potential immune responses. To address these issues, nanomotors have been engineered to propel themselves forward by catalyzing intrinsic "fuel" in the tumor microenvironment. This mechanism facilitates their penetration through biological barriers, allowing them to reach deep tumor regions for targeted drug delivery. In this regard, this article provides a review of tumor microenvironment-activatable nanomotors (fueled by hydrogen peroxide, urea, arginine), and discusses their prospects and challenges in clinical translation, aiming to offer new insights for safe, efficient, and precise treatment in cancer therapy.

Swarming Magnetic Fe3O4@Polydopamine-Tannic Acid Nanorobots: Integrating Antibiotic-Free Superficial Photothermal and Deep Chemical Strategies for Targeted Bacterial Elimination

Micro/nanorobots (MNRs) are envisioned to provide revolutionary changes to therapies for infectious diseases as they can deliver various antibacterial agents or energies to many hard-to-reach infection sites. However, existing MNRs face substantial challenges in addressing complex infections that progress from superficial to deep tissues. Here, we develop swarming magnetic Fe3O4@polydopamine-tannic acid nanorobots (Fe3O4@PDA-TA NRs) capable of performing targeted bacteria elimination in complicated bacterial infections by integrating superficial photothermal and deep chemical strategies. The Fe3O4@PDA-TA nanoparticles (NPs), serving as building blocks of the nanorobots, are fabricated by in situ polymerization of dopamine followed by TA adhesion. When driven by alternating magnetic fields, Fe3O4@PDA-TA NPs can assemble into large energetic microswarms continuously flowing forward with tunable velocity. Thus, the swarming Fe3O4@PDA-TA NRs can be navigated to achieve rapid broad coverage of a targeted superficial area from a distance and rapidly eradicate bacteria residing there upon exposure to near-infrared (NIR) light due to their efficient photothermal conversion. Additionally, they can concentrate at deep infection sites by traversing through confined, narrow, and tortuous passages, exerting sustained antibacterial action through their surface TA-induced easy cell adhesion and subsequent membrane destruction. Therefore, the swarming Fe3O4@PDA-TA NRs show great potential for addressing complex superficial-to-deep infections. This study may inspire the development of future therapeutic microsystems for various diseases with multifunction synergies, task flexibility, and high efficiency.

Delivering Microrobots in the Musculoskeletal System

Disorders of the musculoskeletal system are the major contributors to the global burden of disease and current treatments show limited efficacy. Patients often suffer chronic pain and might eventually have to undergo end-stage surgery. Therefore, future treatments should focus on early detection and intervention of regional lesions. Microrobots have been gradually used in organisms due to their advantages of intelligent, precise and minimally invasive targeted delivery. Through the combination of control and imaging systems, microrobots with good biosafety can be delivered to the desired area for treatment. In the musculoskeletal system, microrobots are mainly utilized to transport stem cells/drugs or to remove hazardous substances from the body. Compared to traditional biomaterial and tissue engineering strategies, active motion improves the efficiency and penetration of local targeting of cells/drugs. This review discusses the frontier applications of microrobotic systems in different tissues of the musculoskeletal system. We summarize the challenges and barriers that hinder clinical translation by evaluating the characteristics of different microrobots and finally point out the future direction of microrobots in the musculoskeletal system.

Micro/nanomotors for neuromodulation

Micro-nanomotors (MNMs) are micro/nanoscale intelligent devices with vast potential in the fields of drug delivery, precision medicine, biosensing, and environmental remediation. Their primary advantage lies in their ability to convert various forms of external energy (such as magnetic, ultrasonic, and light energy) into their own propulsive force. Additionally, MNMs offer high controllability and modifiability, enabling them to navigate in the microscopic world. Importantly, recent research has harnessed the unique advantages of MNMs to synergize their capabilities in neuromodulation. This mini-review presents the significant progress and pioneering achievements in the use of MNMs for neuromodulation, with the aim of inspiring readers to explore the broader biomedical applications of these MNMs. Through continuous innovation and diligent exploration, MNMs show promise to have a profound impact on the field of biomedicine.

Novel Immunosensor Based on Metal Single-Atom Nanozymes with Enhanced Oxidase-Like Activity for Capsaicin Analysis in Spicy Food

Capsaicin (CAP) is a primary indicator for assessing the level of pungency. Herein, iron-based single-atom nanozymes (SAzymes) (Fe/NC) with exceptional oxidase-like activity were used to construct an immunosensor for CAP analysis. Fe/NC could imitate oxidase actions by transforming O2 to •O2- radicals in the absence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which could avoid complex operations and unstable results. By regulating the Fe atom loads, an optimal Fe0.7/NC atom usage rate could improve the catalytic activity (Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) = 0.09 mM). Fe0.7/NC was integrated with goat antimouse IgG by facile mix incubation to develop a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our Fe0.7/NC immunosensing platform is anticipated to outperform the conventional ELISA in terms of stability and shelf life. The proposed immunosensor provided color responses across 0.01-1000 ng/mL CAP concentrations, with a detection limit of 0.046 ng/mL. Fe/NC may have potential as nanozymes for CAP detection in spicy foods, with promising applications in food biosensing.

Heterogeneous Sensor-Carrier Microswarms for Collaborative Precise Drug Delivery toward Unknown Targets with Localized Acidosis

Micro/nanorobots hold the potential to revolutionize biomedicine by executing diverse tasks in hard-to-reach biological environments. Nevertheless, achieving precise drug delivery to unknown disease sites using swarming micro/nanorobots remains a significant challenge. Here we develop a heterogeneous swarm comprising sensing microrobots (sensor-bots) and drug-carrying microrobots (carrier-bots) with collaborative tasking capabilities for precise drug delivery toward unknown sites. Leveraging robust interspecific hydrodynamic interactions, the sensor-bots and carrier-bots spontaneously synchronize and self-organize into stable heterogeneous microswarms. Given that the sensor-bots can create real-time pH maps employing pH-responsive structural-color changes and the doxorubicin-loaded carrier-bots exhibit selective adhesion to acidic targets via pH-responsive charge reversal, the sensor-carrier microswarm, when exploring unknown environments, can detect and localize uncharted acidic targets, guide itself to cover the area, and finally deploy therapeutic carrier-bots precisely there. This versatile platform holds promise for treating diseases with localized acidosis and inspires future theranostic microsystems with expandability, task flexibility, and high efficiency.

Magnetic Microrobot Swarms with Polymeric Hands Catching Bacteria and Microplastics in Water

The forefront of micro- and nanorobot research involves the development of smart swimming micromachines emulating the complexity of natural systems, such as the swarming and collective behaviors typically observed in animals and microorganisms, for efficient task execution. This study introduces magnetically controlled microrobots that possess polymeric sequestrant "hands" decorating a magnetic core. Under the influence of external magnetic fields, the functionalized magnetic beads dynamically self-assemble from individual microparticles into well-defined rotating planes of diverse dimensions, allowing modulation of their propulsion speed, and exhibiting a collective motion. These mobile microrobotic swarms can actively capture free-swimming bacteria and dispersed microplastics "on-the-fly", thereby cleaning aquatic environments. Unlike conventional methods, these microrobots can be collected from the complex media and can release the captured contaminants in a second vessel in a controllable manner, that is, using ultrasound, offering a sustainable solution for repeated use in decontamination processes. Additionally, the residual water is subjected to UV irradiation to eliminate any remaining bacteria, providing a comprehensive cleaning solution. In summary, this study shows a swarming microrobot design for water decontamination processes.

The Model Study of Phase-Transitional Magnetic-Driven Micromotors for Sealing Gastric Perforation via Mg-Based Micropower Traction

Gastric perforation refers to the complete rupture of the gastric wall, leading to the extravasation of gastric contents into the thoracic cavity or peritoneum. Without timely intervention, the expulsion of gastric contents may culminate in profound discomfort, exacerbating the inflammatory process and potentially triggering perilous sepsis. In clinical practice, surgical suturing or endoscopic closure procedures are commonly employed. Magnetic-driven microswarms have also been employed for sealing gastrointestinal perforation. However, surgical intervention entails significant risk of bleeding, while endoscopic closure poses risks of inadequate closure and the need for subsequent removal of closure clips. Moreover, the efficacy of microswarms is limited as they merely adhere to the perforated area, and their sealing effect diminishes upon removal of the magnetic field. Herein, we present a Fe&Mg@Lard-Paraffin micromotor (LPM) constructed from a mixture of lard and paraffin coated with magnesium (Mg) microspheres and iron (Fe) nanospheres for sutureless sealing gastric perforations. Under the control of a rotating magnetic field, this micromotor demonstrates precise control over its movement on gastric mucosal folds and accurately targets the gastric perforation area. The phase transition induced by the high-frequency magnetothermal effect causes the micromotor composed of a mixed oil phase of lard and paraffin to change from a solid to a liquid phase. The coated Mg microspheres are subsequently exposed to the acidic gastric acid environment to produce a magnesium protonation reaction, which in turn generates hydrogen (H2) bubble recoil. Through a Mg-based micropower traction, part of the oil phase could be pushed into the gastric perforation, and it would then solidify to seal the gastric perforation area. Experimental results show that this can achieve long-term (>2 h) gastric perforation sealing. This innovative approach holds potential for improving outcomes in gastric perforation management.

Mimicking Motor Proteins: Wall-Guided Self-Navigation of Microwheels

Untethered micro/nanorobots (MNRs) show great promise in biomedicine. However, high-precision targeted in vivo navigation of MNRs into both deep and tiny microtube networks comes with big challenges because the present medical imaging cannot simultaneously meet the requirements of high resolution, high penetration depth, and high real-time performance. Inspired by intracellular motor proteins that transport cargo along cytoskeletal tracks, this study proposed a microtube inwall-guided targeted self-navigation strategy of magnetic microwheels (μ-wheels) that relies only on interactions with a microtube inwall, compared to conventional techniques that rely on real-time imaging and tracking of MNRs. By presetting the direction of the rotating magnetic field, the μ-wheel realized targeted navigation along the inwall. The propulsion principles behind it are elaborated. The targeted self-navigation of the μ-wheels in three-dimensional microtube networks, a spiral microtube, and an intrahepatic bile duct of a pig was conducted. Lastly, based on the strategy, a practical tumor early detection method was proposed and verified by means of magnetic resonance imaging. The microtube inwall-guided targeted self-navigation strategy reduces the dependence of in vivo targeted navigation of MNRs on the real-time performance of medical imaging technology and greatly contributes to the development of MNRs in biomedical applications.

Bio-Hybrid Magnetic Robots: From Bioengineering to Targeted Therapy

Magnetic robots possess an innate ability to navigate through hard-to-reach cavities in the human body, making them promising tools for diagnosing and treating diseases minimally invasively. Despite significant advances, the development of robots with desirable locomotion and full biocompatibility under harsh physiological conditions remains challenging, which put forward new requirements for magnetic robots' design and material synthesis. Compared to robots that are synthesized with inorganic materials, natural organisms like cells, bacteria or other microalgae exhibit ideal properties for in vivo applications, such as biocompatibility, deformability, auto-fluorescence, and self-propulsion, as well as easy for functional therapeutics engineering. In the process, these organisms can provide autonomous propulsion in biological fluids or external magnetic fields, while retaining their functionalities with integrating artificial robots, thus aiding targeted therapeutic delivery. This kind of robotics is named bio-hybrid magnetic robotics, and in this mini-review, recent progress including their design, engineering and potential for therapeutics delivery will be discussed. Additionally, the historical context and prominent examples will be introduced, and the complexities, potential pitfalls, and opportunities associated with bio-hybrid magnetic robotics will be discussed.

Magnetic propelled hydrogel microrobots for actively enhancing the efficiency of lycorine hydrochloride to suppress colorectal cancer

Research and development in the field of micro/nano-robots have made significant progress in the past, especially in the field of clinical medicine, where further research may lead to many revolutionary achievements. Through the research and experiment of microrobots, a controllable drug delivery system will be realized, which will solve many problems in drug treatment. In this work, we design and study the ability of magnetic-driven hydrogel microrobots to carry Lycorine hydrochloride (LH) to inhibit colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. We have successfully designed a magnetic field driven, biocompatible drug carrying hydrogel microsphere robot with Fe3O4 particles inside, which can achieve magnetic field response, and confirmed that it can transport drug through fluorescence microscope. We have successfully demonstrated the motion mode of hydrogel microrobots driven by a rotating external magnetic field. This driving method allows the microrobots to move in a precise and controllable manner, providing tremendous potential for their use in various applications. Finally, we selected drug LH and loaded it into the hydrogel microrobot for a series of experiments. LH significantly inhibited CRC cells proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. LH inhibited the proliferation, mobility of CRC cells and induced apoptosis. This delivery system can significantly improve the therapeutic effect of drugs on tumors.

Magnetic micromotors crossing lipid membranes

Nano/micromotors are self-propelled particles that show enhanced motion upon being triggered by a stimulus. Their use in nanomedicine has been widely explored, with special focus on imaging or drug delivery. However, a thorough understanding of the requirements for more efficient locomotion is still lacking. In this paper, we assembled magnetically propelled motors of different sizes (i.e., 0.5, 1 and 4 μm) and surface chemistries (positive charge or PEGylated) and assessed their motion in the presence of giant unilamellar lipid vesicles (GUVs) of varying compositions (zwitterionic, negatively charged and saturated lipids). Unexpectedly, the size does not seem to be the dominating characteristics that governs the ability of the motors to cross lipid membranes. Specifically, the 0.5 μm PEGylated motors have very limited ability to cross the lipid membrane of GUVs due to their non-interacting nature compared to their equally sized positively charged counterparts. Furthermore, membranes made of saturated lipids and, in particular, in combination with a weak magnetic field facilitate motors' crossing, regardless of their size. The results were validated by in-house data-driven statistical analysis that employs experimental data to allow for the identification of individual motor motion in the ensemble when meeting the lipid membranes. Altogether, we provide insight into motor locomotion when they interact with a biological barrier considering both the entire ensemble and the individual motors, which has the potential to support considerations of future motor designs.