Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a micro-robot, the size of a biological cell, that can be controlled using both electric and magnetic mechanisms. The robot can move autonomously, distinguish between different types of cells, identify their health, and transport desired cells for further study, such as genetic analysis. It can also transfect a drug and/or gene into the captured targeted single cell.
The micro-robot has potential applications in medical diagnosis, drug transport and screening, surgery, environmental protection, and single cell analysis research. The hybrid propulsion mechanism is particularly effective in physiological environments, such as liquid biopsies, where electric guiding mechanisms are less effective. The micro-robot was developed by Prof. Gilad Yossifon and his team and was inspired by biological micro-swimmers such as bacteria and sperm cells. At the video below Prof. Gilad Yossifon explains about this amazing robot.