Scientists from ETH Zurich in Switzerland have developed a method for manufacturing micromachines composed of both metal and polymer for drug delivery applications inside the body.

Small enough to one day travel through human blood vessels, delivering medications to specific regions of the body, the micromachines were created via 3D lithography to create molds of the micromachines.

The molds, according to the ETH scientists, feature narrow grooves that function as a negative that can be filled with select materials. Through electrochemical deposition, the ETH Zurich team filled some of the grooves with metal and some with polymer. Once created, the template dissolves along with the solvents.

The new micromachines reportedly benefit from the different properties offered by both the metal and the polymer when linked together. The micromachines are powered via magnetic fields from outside of the body, so the micromachine must possess some component of magnetic metal. Meanwhile, polymers can offer soft, flexible and sometimes dissolvable components. Embedded in a dissolvable component, medication could potentially be selectively delivered to specific parts of the body using a micromachine as a vehicle.

In the meantime, the researchers will continue to develop the technology and will experiment with creating micromachines composed of different materials and in different shapes. The team is also exploring other applications for the micromachines such as treating aneurysms or creating folding stents.

The research is detailed in the journal Nature Communications.

To see how the micromachines are expected to operate, watch the accompanying video that appears courtesy of ETH Zurich.