Liquid-bodied antibiofilm robot with switchable viscoelastic response for biofilm eradication on complex surface topographies.

ABSTRACT: Recalcitrant biofilm infections pose a great challenge to human health. Micro- and nanorobots have been used to eliminate biofilm infections in hard-to-reach regions inside the body. However, applying antibiofilm robots under physiological conditions is limited by the conflicting demands of accessibility and driving force. Here, we introduce a liquid-bodied antibiofilm robot constructed by a dynamically cross-linked magnetic hydrogel. Leveraging the viscoelastic response of the robot enables it to adapt to complex surface topographies such as medical meshes and stents. Upon actuation, the robot can mechanically destroy the biofilm matrix, chemically deactivate bacterial cells, and collect disrupted biofilm debris. The robot's antibiofilm performance is studied in vitro and demonstrated on

SUBMITTER: Sun B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11900878 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature