Magnetic micro/nano robots for physical cell stimulation: fundamentals, fabrication, and applications
Source abstract
Abstract
Abstract Cell stimulation plays a critical role in regulating essential cellular processes such as differentiation, migration, and apoptosis. Among various stimulation methods, magnetic micro/nano robots (mMNRs) have gained attention for their ability to precisely stimulate cellular and intracellular structures, owing to their structural flexibility and remote actuation. While much of the research on mMNRs has focused on their use for chemical stimulation of cells, particularly for targeted drug delivery, increasing attention is now given to their potential for physical stimulation of cells. As one form of physical stimulation, mechanical cell stimulation, particularly for cancer therapeutics, has been discussed in existing reviews. This article presents a comprehensive review of the most recent advances in mMNR-mediated physical cell stimulation, including mechanical, thermal, and electrical stimulation, and highlights their emerging roles in cancer therapy, regenerative medicine, neuromodulation, and antimicrobial treatment. The fundamentals of magnetic material-field interactions and actuation mechanisms are discussed, followed by fabrication strategies for structurally diverse mMNRs. Biomedical applications driven by mMNR-mediated cell stimulation are then discussed, along with remaining challenges and opportunities. By highlighting the unique capabilities of mMNRs in physical cell stimulation, this review emphasizes their potential in advancing both biological research and biomedical applications.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Micro and Nano Robotics · Characterization and Applications of Magnetic Nanoparticles · Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
References (100+)
Show source-provided references
1. Localized electrical stimulation triggers cell-type-specific proliferation in biofilms10.1016/j.cels.2022.04.001 ↗
2. Targeted mechanical stimulation via magnetic nanoparticles guides in vitro tissue development10.1038/s41467-023-41037-8 ↗
3. A nanoparticle-based wireless deep brain stimulation system that reverses Parkinson’s disease10.1126/sciadv.ado4927 ↗
4. Annexins—a family of proteins with distinctive tastes for cell signaling and membrane dynamics10.1038/s41467-024-45954-0 ↗
5. P2X4 and P2X7 are essential players in basal T cell activity and Ca2+ signaling milliseconds after T cell activation10.1126/sciadv.abl9770 ↗
6. Elevated exogenous pyruvate potentiates mesodermal differentiation through metabolic modulation and AMPK/mTOR pathway in human embryonic stem cells10.1016/j.stemcr.2019.06.003 ↗
7. Cell adhesion and spreading on fluid membranes through microtubules-dependent mechanotransduction10.1038/s41467-025-56343-6 ↗
8. Relocalizing transcriptional kinases to activate apoptosis10.1126/science.adl5361 ↗
9. Triggering antitumoural drug release and gene expression by magnetic hyperthermia10.1016/j.addr.2018.10.004 ↗
10. FGF21 promotes thermogenic gene expression as an autocrine factor in adipocytes10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109331 ↗
11. EGFR-induced cytoskeletal changes drive complex cell behaviors: the tip of the iceberg10.1126/scisignal.aas9473 ↗
12. Extracellular fluid viscosity regulates human mesenchymal stem cell lineage and function10.1126/sciadv.adr5023 ↗
13. Rac1 promotes kidney collecting duct repair by mechanically coupling cell morphology to mitotic entry10.1126/sciadv.adi7840 ↗
14. Metabolic and mechanical cues regulating pluripotent stem cell fate10.1016/j.tcb.2018.09.005 ↗
15. Metabolic control by heat stress determining cell fate to ferroptosis for effective cancer therapy10.1021/acsnano.1c00380 ↗
16. All-in-one: multifunctional hydrogel accelerates oxidative diabetic wound healing through timed-release of exosome and fibroblast growth factor10.1002/smll.202104229 ↗
17. Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 cardiovascular symptoms are associated with trace-level cytokines that affect cardiomyocyte function10.1038/s41564-024-01838-z ↗
18. The neurotransmitter calcitonin gene-related peptide shapes an immunosuppressive microenvironment in medullary thyroid cancer10.1038/s41467-024-49824-7 ↗
19. Mechanisms of mechanotransduction and physiological roles of PIEZO channels10.1038/s41580-024-00773-5 ↗
20. A YAP-centered mechanotransduction loop drives collective breast cancer cell invasion10.1038/s41467-024-49230-z ↗
21. A review on the use of magnetic fields and ultrasound for non-invasive cancer treatment10.1016/j.jare.2018.06.003 ↗
22. A feedforward mechanism mediated by mechanosensitive ion channel PIEZO1 and tissue mechanics promotes glioma aggression10.1016/j.neuron.2018.09.046 ↗
23. Nanoparticle-mediated thermal cancer therapies: strategies to improve clinical translatability10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.06.055 ↗
24. Activation of CD81+ skin ILC2s by cold-sensing TRPM8+ neuron-derived signals maintains cutaneous thermal homeostasis10.1126/sciimmunol.abe0584 ↗
25. Revealing single-neuron and network-activity interaction by combining high-density microelectrode array and optogenetics10.1038/s41467-024-53505-w ↗
26. Precise cell type electrical stimulation therapy via force-electric hydrogel microspheres for cartilage healing10.1002/adma.202414555 ↗
27. Metabolomic and cellular mechanisms of drug-induced ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity: therapeutic implications of uric acid modulation10.1002/advs.202415041 ↗
28. Cells under stress: an inertial-shear microfluidic determination of cell behavior10.1016/j.bpj.2019.01.034 ↗
29. Advanced near-infrared light for monitoring and modulating the spatiotemporal dynamics of cell functions in living systems10.1002/advs.201903783 ↗
30. Annular conductive hydrogel-mediated wireless electrical stimulation for augmenting neurogenesis10.1002/adhm.202400624 ↗
31. Drug diffusion and release from a bioerodible spherical capsule10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.121442 ↗
32. Microinjection in biomedical applications: an effortless autonomous omnidirectional microinjection system10.1109/MIE.2023.3318831 ↗
33. Sensing morphogenesis of bone cells under microfluidic shear stress by holographic microscopy and automatic aberration compensation with deep learning10.1039/D0LC01113D ↗
34. Near-infrared II phototherapy induces deep tissue immunogenic cell death and potentiates cancer immunotherapy10.1021/acsnano.9b06040 ↗
35. Designing silk biomaterials toward better future healthcare: the development and application of silk-based implantable electronic devices in clinical diagnosis and therapy10.1002/adma.202411946 ↗
36. Trends in micro‐/nanorobotics: materials development, actuation, localization, and system integration for biomedical applications10.1002/adma.202002047 ↗
37. Mechanical stimuli-driven cancer therapeutics10.1039/D2CS00546H ↗
38. Magnetically driven micro and nanorobots10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01234 ↗
39. Ultrasonically propelled micro- and nanorobots10.1002/adfm.202102265 ↗
40. A review on microrobots driven by optical and magnetic fields10.1039/D2LC00573E ↗
41. Advances in chemically powered micro/nanorobots for biological applications: a review10.1002/adfm.202209883 ↗
42. Synthesis of silver nanoparticles with different shapes10.1016/j.arabjc.2014.12.014 ↗
43. Surface-chemistry-mediated control of individual magnetic helical microswimmers in a swarm10.1021/acsnano.8b02907 ↗
44. Preparation and application of Janus nanoparticles: recent development and prospects10.1016/j.ccr.2021.214318 ↗
45. Magnetic nanorobots as maneuverable immunoassay probes for automated and efficient enzyme linked immunosorbent assay10.1021/acsnano.1c05267 ↗
46. Reconfigurable swarms of ferromagnetic colloids for enhanced local hyperthermia10.1002/adfm.201705701 ↗
47. Janus microparticles-based targeted and spatially-controlled piezoelectric neural stimulation via low-intensity focused ultrasound10.1038/s41467-024-46245-4 ↗
48. Micro‐/nanorobots at work in active drug delivery10.1002/adfm.201706100 ↗
49. External power-driven micro/nanorobots: design, fabrication, and functionalization for tumor diagnosis and therapy10.1016/j.pmatsci.2023.101204 ↗
50. Micro/nanorobots for biomedicine: delivery, surgery, sensing, and detoxification10.1126/scirobotics.aam6431 ↗
51. Recent advances in magnetic‐nanomaterial‐based mechanotransduction for cell fate regulation10.1002/adma.201705673 ↗
52. Magnetic measurement and stimulation of cellular and intracellular structures10.1021/acsnano.0c00959 ↗
53. Tutorial: a beginner’s guide to interpreting magnetic susceptibility data with the Curie-Weiss law10.1038/s42005-022-00853-y ↗
54. Jakubovics · 2023
55. Paramagnetic NMR in solution and the solid state10.1016/j.pnmrs.2018.05.001 ↗
56. Micro/nanoscale magnetic robots for biomedical applications10.1016/j.mtbio.2020.100085 ↗
57. Shaping the assembly of superparamagnetic nanoparticles10.1021/acsnano.8b07783 ↗
58. Magnetic nanoparticles: synthesis, anisotropy, and applications10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00860 ↗
59. Superparamagnetic nanoparticles for biomedical applications10.1039/C9TB01955C ↗
60. Size-isolation of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles improves MRI, MPI and hyperthermia performance10.1186/s12951-020-0580-1 ↗
61. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticulate system: synthesis, targeting, drug delivery and therapy in cancer10.1039/C9DT00459A ↗
62. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for magnetic hyperthermia: recent advancements, molecular effects, and future directions in the omics era10.1039/D1BM01963E ↗
63. Gravity-resisting colloidal collectives10.1126/sciadv.ade3161 ↗
64. Neutrophil-inspired propulsion in a combined acoustic and magnetic field10.1038/s41467-017-00845-5 ↗
65. Reconfigurable magnetic microrobot swarm: multimode transformation, locomotion, and manipulation10.1126/scirobotics.aav8006 ↗
66. Microrobotic swarms for intracellular measurement with enhanced signal-to-noise ratio10.1021/acsnano.2c02938 ↗
67. External power-driven microrobotic swarm: from fundamental understanding to imaging-guided delivery10.1021/acsnano.0c07753 ↗
68. Micro/nanorobotic swarms: from fundamentals to functionalities10.1021/acsnano.2c11733 ↗
69. Multimodal locomotion control of needle-like microrobots assembled by ferromagnetic nanoparticles10.1109/TMECH.2022.3155806 ↗
70. Swimming performance enhancement of the magnetic helical microrobots based on surface microstructure modification10.1109/LRA.2025.3557225 ↗
71. Paired interactions of magnetic millirobots in confined spaces through data-driven disturbance rejection control under global input10.1109/TMECH.2025.3602061 ↗
72. Active exploration and reconstruction of vascular networks using microrobot swarms10.1038/s42256-025-01012-y ↗
73. Magnetic actuation for full dexterity microrobotic control using rotating permanent magnets10.1109/TRO.2017.2719687 ↗
74. Permanent magnets based actuator for microrobots navigation
75. A four-magnet system for 2D wireless open-loop control of microrobots
76. Recent advances in field-controlled micro–nano manipulations and micro–nano robots10.1002/aisy.202100116 ↗
77. Accuracy of magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy, compared with conventional gastroscopy, in detection of gastric diseases10.1016/j.cgh.2016.05.013 ↗
78. Magnetically guided capsule endoscopy10.1002/mp.12299 ↗
79. Magnetic levitation for soft-tethered capsule colonoscopy actuated with a single permanent magnet: a dynamic control approach10.1109/LRA.2019.2894907 ↗
80. Five-degree-of-freedom manipulation of an untethered magnetic device in fluid using a single permanent magnet with application in stomach capsule endoscopy10.1177/0278364914558006 ↗
81. A composite electro-permanent magnetic actuator for microrobot manipulation10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2022.107516 ↗
82. Visual servoing of miniature magnetic film swimming robots for 3-D arbitrary path following10.1109/LRA.2019.2931234 ↗
83. Janus microdimer surface walkers propelled by oscillating magnetic fields10.1002/adfm.201706066 ↗
84. Magnetic actuation systems for miniature robots: a review10.1002/aisy.202000082 ↗
85. Design and optimization of a novel double-layer Helmholtz coil for wirelessly powering a capsule robot10.1109/TPEL.2023.3321845 ↗
86. Magnetic force-propelled 3D locomotion control for magnetic microrobots via simple modified three-axis Helmholtz coil system10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3113765 ↗
87. Electromagnetic actuation system using stationary six-pair coils for three-dimensional wireless locomotive microrobot
88. OctoMag: an electromagnetic system for 5-DOF wireless micromanipulation10.1109/TRO.2010.2073030 ↗
89. Locomotion and disaggregation control of paramagnetic nanoclusters using wireless electromagnetic fields for enhanced targeted drug delivery10.1038/s41598-021-94446-4 ↗
90. Minimum bounds on the number of electromagnets required for remote magnetic manipulation10.1109/TRO.2015.2424051 ↗
91. Free manipulation system for nanorobot cluster based on complicated multi-coil electromagnetic actuator10.1038/s41598-021-98957-y ↗
92. Robust 3-D path following control framework for magnetic helical millirobots subject to fluid flow and input saturation10.1109/TCYB.2024.3439708 ↗
93. Spatial constraint-based navigation and emergency replanning adaptive control for magnetic helical microrobots in dynamic environments10.1109/TASE.2023.3339637 ↗
94. A robot motion learning method using broad learning system verified by small-scale fish-like robot10.1109/TCYB.2023.3269773 ↗
95. Efficient model learning and adaptive tracking control of magnetic micro-robots for non-contact manipulation
96. Ultrasound acoustic phase analysis enables robotic visual-servoing of magnetic microrobots10.1109/TRO.2022.3143072 ↗
97. An engineered bacteria-hybrid microrobot with the magnetothermal bioswitch for remotely collective perception and imaging-guided cancer treatment10.1021/acsnano.1c11601 ↗
98. Control the neural stem cell fate with biohybrid piezoelectrical magnetite micromotors10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c00290 ↗
99. Magnetically manipulated optoelectronic hybrid microrobots for optically targeted non‐genetic neuromodulation10.1002/adma.202305632 ↗
100. Magnetic actuation methods in bio/soft robotics10.1002/adfm.202005137 ↗