Clinicians treating cancer and blood clots must balance the risk of medical interventions with their life-saving benefits. Biopsies to collect tissue for testing, ablations to kill diseased cells, and surgery or catheters to remove blood clots are effective but they’re also invasive. New microrobots – smaller than the diameter of a human hair – could reduce the need for invasive procedures.
“Our untethered microrobots can be guided through the body to deliver therapy exactly where it’s needed,” said Jinxing Li, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Michigan State University. “We use 3D printing to build a hydrogel matrix embedded with iron oxide and cobalt ferrite. The magnetic quality of these two compounds allows us to guide the microrobots wirelessly from outside the body.
“In addition to being a more precise way to treat disease and disorders, procedures using microrobots are safer because they’re less invasive, have fewer side effects, and have shorter recovery times.”
When the microrobot’s work is done, its biodegradable components are broken down by the body’s natural processes and cleared out through the blood and kidneys.
Li notes that the microrobots could be vital in supporting rural and underserved areas where hospitals have a shortage of highly-specialized surgeons.
To learn more about Li’s work, visit:
- TriMag Microrobots: 3D-Printed Microrobots for Magnetic Actuation, Imaging, and Hyperthermia(opens in new window) [Article]
- Li Lab website(opens in new window) [Website]
- Jinxing Li profile [Website]
- Jinxing Li Google Scholar page(opens in new window) [Website]
This research was sourced from the College of Engineering.
Opportunities for Partnership
The MSU Innovation Center is seeking companies and organizations interested in medical microrobotics, minimally invasive therapies, and targeted drug delivery technologies.
Whether you’re exploring sponsored research, licensing opportunities, or co-developing magnetic microrobots, biodegradable medical devices, or wireless guidance systems for precision medicine, we’re ready to collaborate.
Interested in partnering with MSU faculty on biomedical microrobotics research and next-generation minimally invasive medical solutions?
Visit innovationcenter.msu.edu or contact us to start the conversation.
About the MSU Innovation Center
The MSU Innovation Center is Michigan State University’s hub for corporate partnerships, technology commercialization, and startup support. By integrating MSU Technologies, Business Connect, and Spartan Innovations, the Center transforms groundbreaking research into real-world impact. Each year, the Innovation Center helps launch more than 130 discoveries into patented products and startup ventures, advancing economic development and improving lives locally and globally. Through strategic collaborations with faculty, industry, and investors, the Center accelerates innovation from concept to market—empowering Spartans to lead in entrepreneurship, research translation, and public-private partnerships. Learn more at innovationcenter.msu.edu