Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41629479›Full record

ArticleNature nanotechnology2026

Enzymatic microbubble robots.

Songsong Tang, Hong Han, Xiaotian Ma, Payal N Patel, Chen Gong, Junhang Zhang, Ernesto Criado-Hidalgo, Jounghyun Yoo, Jiahong Li, Gwangmook Kim and 5 more

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Nature nanotechnology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing 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

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. 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

15 authors.

Songsong TangAndrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4699-6563
Hong HanAndrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2852-8662
Xiaotian MaAndrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-8357-9916
Payal N PatelAndrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-4056-3690
Chen GongAlfred E. Man Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6262-704X
Junhang ZhangAlfred E. Man Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Ernesto Criado-HidalgoAndrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9086-9129
Jounghyun YooAndrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4253-2382
Jiahong LiAndrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
Gwangmook KimAndrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7469-408X
Shukun YinAndrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8218-9219
Di WuAndrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6848-668X
Mikhail G ShapiroAndrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0291-4215
Qifa ZhouAlfred E. Man Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1527-3020
Wei GaoAndrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA. weigao@caltech.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8503-4562

Funding

National Science Foundation (NSF) 1931214
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The development of micro- and nanorobots has amplified the demand for intelligent multifunctional machines in biomedical applications, but most microrobotic systems struggle to achieve the attributes needed for those applications. Here we introduce enzymatic microbubble robots that exhibit steerable motion, enhanced biodegradability, high in vivo imaging contrast, and effective targeting and penetration of disease sites. These microrobots feature natural protein shells modified with urease to decompose bioavailable urea for autonomous propulsion, whereas an internal microbubble serves as an ultrasound imaging contrast agent for deep tissue imaging and navigation. Magnetic nanoparticle integration enables imaging-guided magnetically controlled motion and catalase functionalization facilitates chemotactic movement towards hydrogen peroxide gradients, directing robots to tumour sites. Focused ultrasound triggers robot shell collapse and inertial cavitation of the released microbubbles, creating mechanical forces that enhance therapeutic payload penetration. In vivo studies validate the tumour-targeting and therapeutic efficacy of these robots, demonstrating enhanced antitumour effects. This multifunctional microbubble robotic platform has the potential to transform medical interventions and precision therapies.

Indexed as

MicrobubblesNeoplasmsRoboticsUreaseAnimalsAutonomous RobotsContrast MediaHumansMiceContrast MediaUrease

Identifiers

PMID41629479

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

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.