Algae-based microrobot for drug delivery
Microalgae combined with antibiotic-loaded neutrophil membrane-coated polymeric nanoparticles provide a hybrid microrobot having robust locomotion in the lungs in vivo toward effective treatment of pulmonary and gastrointestinal tract infections. The algae-nanoparticle hybrid microrobots are provided in methods of treatment of disease or conditions by administration for active in vivo delivery of therapeutics to the lungs or gastrointestinal tract. The microrobot system can be applied to treat a wide range of diseases, including viral pneumonia.
1 . A hybrid microrobot comprising motile algae conjugated with a therapeutic agent-loaded cellular membrane-coated polymeric nanoparticle.
2 . The hybrid microrobot of claim 1 , wherein the cellular membrane is a neutrophil membrane or red blood cell membrane.
3 . The hybrid microrobot of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic agent is an antibiotic, antiviral or anti-cancer agent.
4 . The hybrid microrobot of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic agent is ciprofloxacin or doxorubicin.
5 . The hybrid microrobot of claim 1 , wherein the algae is Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.
6 . The hybrid microrobot of claim 1 , wherein the algae has a surface modified with azido-PEG4-N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester, and is conjugated with dibenzocyclooctyne (DBCO)-PEG 4 -NHS ester modified membrane-coated polymeric nanoparticles.
7 . The hybrid microrobot of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric nanoparticle comprises poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA).
8 . The hybrid microrobot of claim 1 , wherein the hybrid microrobot is embedded inside a pH-sensitive capsule for gastrointestinal delivery.
9 . The hybrid microrobot of claim 1 , wherein the hybrid microrobot has locomotive ability of at least 110 μm s −1 in the lungs in vivo.
10 . The hybrid microrobot of claim 1 , wherein the hybrid microrobot has a tissue retention time of at least 2 days.
11 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the hybrid microrobot of claim 1 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
12 . A method of treating a pulmonary disease or condition comprising administering to a subject in need an effective amount of a hybrid microrobot of claim 1 .
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the pulmonary disease is due to an infection by a virus or bacteria.
14 . The method of claim 12 , the disease is caused by a bacterial pneumonia.
15 . The method of claim 14 , the bacteria is Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
16 . The method of claim 12 , the disease is caused by a viral pneumonia.
17 . The method of claim 12 , the disease is caused by a cancer.
18 . The method of claim 12 , the administration is to the lungs of the subject.
19 . The method of claim 18 , the administration is intratracheal.
20 . The method of claim 12 , the administration is to the gastrointestinal tract of the subject.
21 . The method of claim 20 , the administration is intraesophageal or endogastric.