Biodegradable microrollers for magnetic drug targeting

Abstract

The development of biodegradable microrobots is very important for advancing targeted drug delivery systems and ensuring safety through the elimination of residual materials. In this study, we present poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microrollers fabricated via a scalable solvent evaporation method, incorporating ferromagnetic iron-platinum (FePt) nanoparticles, indocyanine green (ICG), and docetaxel (DTX). This approach enables high-yield production of microrollers with an average diameter of 6.7 μm, significantly smaller than comparable systems in the literature, thereby enhancing their maneuverability in biological environments. The ferromagnetic FePt nanoparticles provide high coercivity, allowing precise control and navigation under external magnetic fields, critical for targeted drug delivery. ICG integration along with the FePt nanoparticles ensures suitability for biomedical imaging modalities, including photoacoustic (PA) imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Biocompatibility studies confirm that the microrollers exhibit no significant cytotoxic effects on healthy cells, while demonstrating potent apoptotic effects on cancer cells upon drug delivery. This study highlights the potential of PLGA microrollers as a scalable, biodegradable, and multifunctional platform for magnetic targeting, controlled drug release, and advanced biomedical imaging applications. © 2025 The Author(s)