Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40644551›Full record

ArticleScience advances2025

Picoeukaryote-based biohybrid microrobots for active delivery in the kidney.

Zhengxing Li, Dan Wang, Hao Luan, An-Yi Chang, Zheng Fang, Lei Sun, Junyi Ji, Wei-Ting Shen, Yiyan Yu, Yiyang Yan and 8 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Science advances, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Red Blood Cells as Endogenous Biotweezers for Optical Micromanipulation In Vivo.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Light force-powered cellular medical micromachines.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Zhengxing LiAiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-0250-0936
Dan WangAiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-9758-3614
Hao LuanAiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-1251-7480
An-Yi ChangAiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-8327-9892
Zheng FangAiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.ORCID 0009-0009-3998-8232
Lei SunAiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Junyi JiShu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.ORCID 0009-0000-5127-398X
Wei-Ting ShenAiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Yiyan YuAiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-7136-654X
Yiyang YanAiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Shichao DingAiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-3795-306X
Jiayuan Alex ZhangAiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Yichen ZhangProgram in Materials Science and Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Yifei PengAiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Ronnie H FangAiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-6373-3189
Weiwei GaoAiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-5196-4887
Liangfang ZhangAiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0637-0654
Joseph WangAiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-4921-9674

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Confined spaces in the human body pose substantial challenges for biomedical procedures. Navigating these ultrasmall environments is essential for precise drug delivery, improving treatment outcomes and reducing adverse effects. Microrobots offer a promising approach to accessing these complex microenvironments. Here, we show a biohybrid microrobot based on picoeukaryotes, engineered as a cargo carrier for active delivery in tight in vivo spaces. The microrobot exhibits strong in vitro motility through narrow two-dimensional and complex three-dimensional networks and, in vivo, achieves outstanding kidney penetration, uniform distribution, and >48-hour retention while resisting flow shear and immune clearance, with excellent biosafety. Their ability to retain functionality and sustain propulsion within the confined and complex kidney vasculatures and interstitial spaces underscore their potential for long-term, active delivery in confined biological environments. The picoeukaryote-based biohybrid microrobot system represents a major advancement in active drug delivery, especially tailored to the challenging microenvironments of the kidney.

Indexed as

Drug Delivery SystemsKidneyRoboticsAnimalsHumansMice

Identifiers

PMID40644551
PMCPMC12248282

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.