Microrobot-Packed Pill Shows Promise for Treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Mice

Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a pill that releases microscopic robots, or microrobots, into the colon to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The experimental treatment, given orally, has shown success in mice. It significantly reduced IBD symptoms and promoted the healing of damaged colon tissue without causing toxic side effects. The microrobots are composed of inflammation-fighting nanoparticles chemically attached to green algae cells. The nanoparticles absorb and neutralize pro-inflammatory cytokines in the gut, and the green algae distribute the nanoparticles throughout the colon, accelerating cytokine removal to help heal inflamed tissue.