Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42106937›Full record

ArticleAdvanced healthcare materials2026

Biodegradable Microrobots for Active Navigation and Delivery on Ex Vivo Cardiac Models.

Fatma Ceren Kirmizitas, Srikanta Debata, Bingzhi Wu, Kathryn M Ellwood, Subrahmanyam Cherukumilli, Baylen Ravenscraft, David P Rivas, Max Sokolich, Aditya Dutta, Sambeeta Das

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Advanced healthcare materials, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

10 authors.

Fatma Ceren KirmizitasDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Srikanta DebataDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Bingzhi WuDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Kathryn M EllwoodDepartment of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Subrahmanyam CherukumilliDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Baylen RavenscraftDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
David P RivasDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Max SokolichDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Aditya DuttaDepartments of Animal and Food Sciences, Biological Sciences, Medical and Molecular Sciences, and Microbiology Graduate Program, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Sambeeta DasDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0605-4021

Funding

Predictive Modeling & Optimal Control Framework for Model-Based Epidemic Response in DelawareP20GM103446 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE · PI MELINDA K DUNCAN · 2012 to 2026
$67.2M
The eye as a window into sickle cell disease morbidityP20GM109021 · NIGMS · NEMOURS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, DELAWARE · PI HILDENBRAND, AIMEE K · 2014 to 2025
$20.7M
Controlling Cellular Fate using MicromachinesR35GM147451 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE · PI Sambeeta Das · 2022 to 2026
$2.0M
National Institutes of Health and the State of Delaware 5P20GM109021-07National Science Foundation CPS 2234869National Science Foundation GCR 2219101NIGMS NIH HHS P20 GM103446NIGMS NIH HHS P20 GM109021NIGMS NIH HHS R35 GM147451NIH HHS 1R35GM147451
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Magnetically driven microrobots are emerging as valuable tools for biomedical applications due to their high precision, remote controllability, and fuel-free operation. However, the development of simple, biocompatible, and biodegradable microrobots that can effectively navigate and function on physiologically relevant biological surfaces remains a significant challenge. In this study, we present biocompatible spherical microrobots driven by magnetic fields, capable of performing multiple tasks over the complex surface of chicken heart tissue. The microrobots are designed by synthesizing biocompatible spherical PLGA (Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)) microparticles and coating them with iron, a magnetic material, on one side via the physical vapor deposition technique. Under a rotating magnetic field, the microrobots exhibit active rolling motion, with their movement precisely controlled through both manual open-loop and automated closed-loop settings. We then tested the efficiency of the microrobots on the complex and rough surface of ex vivo chicken heart tissue, where they showed consistent rolling motion and trajectory tracking across heterogeneous tissue surfaces. Additionally, the microrobots demonstrated the ability to transport cells to targeted locations on the tissue surface. Furthermore, biodegradability studies confirmed that the microrobots degrade over time, with no significant cytotoxicity observed at selected timepoints. This simple design, combined with biocompatibility, versatile locomotion, and biodegradability, positions these microrobots as promising candidates for active therapeutic delivery, in vivo diagnostics, and a wide range of biomedical applications.

Indexed as

Biocompatible MaterialsHeartMyocardiumRoboticsAnimalsChickensLactic AcidPolyglycolic AcidPolylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid CopolymerBiocompatible MaterialsLactic AcidPolyglycolic AcidPolylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymerbiocompatiblebiodegradableex vivo applicationsmagnetically drivenmicrorobotsPLGA based microrobots

Identifiers

PMID42106937
PMCPMC13285667

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Registered trials

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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.