IRIM Fall 2025 Seminar | Medical Micro/Nanorobots for In Vivo Navigation and Precision Therapeutics

Title: Medical Micro/Nanorobots for In Vivo Navigation and Precision Therapeutics

Abstract: The 1966 film Fantastic Voyage inspired the concept of miniature machines traversing the human body to diagnose and treat disease. This once-futuristic vision is now being realized through the development of synthetic micro/nanorobots engineered for in vivo biomedical applications. In this talk, I will highlight recent advances in the design of microrobots powered by bioavailable fuels or externally applied fields such as ultrasound and magnetism. These systems enable a range of sophisticated capabilities, including biosensing, targeted drug delivery, bioimaging, and cellular isolation. I will discuss our recent work on ultrasound-propelled microrobots that achieve deep-tissue navigation and controllable drug release guided by real-time ultrasound imaging. In parallel, I will present biofuel-powered micro/nanomotors designed for effective tissue penetration and programmable therapeutic delivery, particularly in oncology settings. These platforms integrate responsive materials, wireless control, and clinical imaging interfaces, transforming synthetic motors into intelligent, adaptable therapeutic agents. Our results reveal the vast potential of medical microrobots in addressing unmet clinical needs across gastrointestinal disorders, inflammation, cancer, and precision medicine.

Bio: Wei Gao is a Professor of Medical Engineering and Heritage Medical Research Institute Investigator at the California Institute of Technology. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego in 2014, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley from 2014 to 2017. He is an Associate Editor of Science Advances, npj Flexible Electronics, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, and Sensors & Diagnosis. He is a recipient of NSF Career Award, ONR Young Investigator Award, IAMBE Early Career Award, Sloan Research Fellowship, Pittcon Achievement Award, IEEE EMBS Early Career Achievement Award, IEEE EMBS Technical Achievement Award, IEEE Sensor Council Technical Achievement Award, MIT Technology Review 35 Innovators Under 35, and Falling Walls Breakthrough of the Year in Engineering and Technology. He is a World Economic Forum Young Scientist, a Highly Cited Researcher (Web of Science). He is an elected Fellow for AIMBE and RSC. His research interests include wearable biosensors, digital medicine, bioelectronics, additive manufacturing, and micro/nanorobotics.