Revolutionizing Liver Cancer Treatment: MRI-Guided Microrobots Offer Precise Targeting

Montreal radiologist Gilles Soulez and a team of Canadian scientists have introduced an innovative method utilizing magnet-guided microrobots within an MRI device.

Comprising magnetizable iron oxide nanoparticles, these microrobots can be directed to their destination through an external magnetic field, potentially revolutionizing interventional radiology and liver cancer treatment.

Magnetic Microrobots Navigate with Precision in Human Arteries

The microrobots, composed of tiny and biocompatible magnetizable iron oxide nanoparticles, enable precise control through an external magnetic field, intending to administer targeted medical treatment, particularly for liver tumors. However, a challenge emerged as the gravitational force of these microrobots exceeded the magnetic force, impeding guidance for tumors situated higher than the injection site.

Addressing this issue, researchers, led by Dr. Gilles Soulez from the CHUM Research Centre, devised an algorithm incorporating gravity and magnetic navigation forces, optimizing the microrobots' path to tumor-feeding arterial branches.

This breakthrough, titled "Human-scale navigation of magnetic microrobots in hepatic arteries" published in Science Robotics, holds the potential to revolutionize interventional radiology approaches for treating hepatocellular carcinoma, a major contributor to global cancer deaths.

Current treatments, like transarterial chemoembolization, often involve invasive methods guided by X-rays. On the other hand, the novel magnetic resonance navigation approach, deployable through implantable catheters, offers advantages such as improved tumor visualization on MRI, as articulated by Soulez.

Collaborating with researchers from Polytechnique Montreal and the University of British Columbia, the team developed an MRI-compatible microrobot injector, forming "particle trains" for enhanced maneuverability and detection. This innovative method ensures precise direction and optimal treatment dosage, highlighting the promising potential for revolutionizing liver cancer interventions.

Radiologists must know the quantity of microrobots over time to ensure the treatment dose is adequate and directed accurately. This method guarantees both the proper direction of the train and the adequacy of the treatment dose.

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Promising Trials and Future Clinical Prospects with Microrobots

The technology has undergone successful trials on pigs and simulations on human livers, showing promising results as the microrobots accurately reach their intended target. These trials mark a significant stride towards the potential clinical application of this innovative technology.

It is crucial to recognize that the clinical application of this technology is still in its early developmental phases. Further refinement and modeling are necessary to enhance real-time navigation and precision. The researchers are actively working on these aspects to ensure the safety and efficacy of the technology when applied to humans.

This pioneering method for treating liver tumors holds the promise of transforming interventional radiology practices. Directly delivering targeted treatment to a tumor has the potential to vastly improve patient outcomes.

Moreover, this approach may mitigate the side effects associated with traditional cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy by eliminating the need for these treatments to circulate throughout the entire body.

Despite progress, clinical use is distant. Dr. Soulez stresses optimizing microrobot navigation, and detecting liver location and artery blockages through AI. Modeling blood flow and magnetic field direction is essential for precise targeting.

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