Those magnificent researchers and their micromachines

Written by Tristan Free (Digital Editor)

Micromachines

A delicate method of micro-3D printing may have unlocked a new tool in the advancement of drug delivery: ‘micromachines’. A research team at ETH Zurich (Switzerland) has found a way to craft minuscule devices composed of plastic and metal components. The ‘micromachines’ could have a huge impact in the field of drug delivery, allowing clinicians to load the machines with an active substance and deliver it to the target site before releasing it, increasing efficacy and reducing off-target effects. To direct micromachines within the body, magnetic waves are typically used to influence magnetic metal parts. However, metals have limits as...

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