Inhalable biohybrid microrobots: A non-invasive approach for lung treatment

Summary

This study demonstrates a non-invasive inhalation method for delivering biohybrid microrobots to the lungs, using a nebulizer to aerosolize picoeukaryotic algae that retain motility (~55 μm/s) post-nebulization. In a mouse model of acute MRSA pneumonia, algae carrying vancomycin-loaded platelet membrane-coated nanoparticles achieved uniform lung distribution, prolonged retention (>5 days), and significant bacterial load reduction (four orders of magnitude) with 100% survival over 60 days, outperforming static algae, nanoparticles alone, and intravenous vancomycin. The approach avoids anesthesia and intratracheal administration, highlighting its potential for repeated pulmonary therapy.