Soft Robots for Bacterial Cancer Therapy

Introduction

Bacterial therapies hold significant promise for cancer treatment due to bacteria's ability to move actively within tissues and their potential to target tumor sites. However, challenges such as uncontrolled bacterial proliferation, off-target distribution, and limited control over their speed and localization have impeded their clinical application. Recent approaches involve modifying bacteria with magnetic materials to enable external control; however, limitations around bacterial growth, motion, and targeted localization remain.

Our Solution

To address these issues, we create magnetically responsive hydrogel-based platforms that encapsulate probiotic bacteria and guide them to a target destination via magnetic guidance. Our soft, magnetic robotic platform enables targeted delivery and controlled release of bacteria in tumor models in vitro. After being released from the hydrogel, the bacteria target and effectively destroy cancer cells in laboratory models. 

Applications

By concentrating viable therapeutic bacteria in a confined, biocompatible environment, our soft robotic system improves targeted cancer treatment. The platform also exhibits the capability to traverse complex, uneven surfaces, demonstrating its potential as a minimally invasive, targeted cancer treatment approach.

Involved Authors

Oncay Yasa

Miriam Filippi

Robert Katzschmann