Mariana Medina-Sánchez: “The sinergy of microrobotics, nanobiosensors and AI is transforming assisted reproduction treatments and gynecological healthcare”

Reproductive medicine is undergoing a veritable technological revolution. “Advances in materials science, microfabrication, and nanotechnology have opened the door to new diagnostic tools and increasingly accurate and personalised treatments,” said Mariana Medina-Sánchez in the article published in Nature Nanotechnology, together with Dr Friedrich Striggow, Pallavi Jha (members of her group) and her collaborator Prof. Ripla Arora of Michigan State University in the USA. “The converging of microrobotics, nanobiosensors, and AI is transforming assisted reproduction treatments. These technologies enable gametes and embryos to be selected and manipulated with greater precision, in vitro and in vivo , and clinical decision-making to be assisted by advanced algorithms, the aim being to increase the success rates of assisted fertilisation,” the authors stressed. 

Minimally invasive therapies are essential as they cause less trauma, enable faster recovery, and have fewer side effects. However, conventional tools for these procedures, such as laparoscopic instruments, guides, and catheters, typically have diameters ranging from millimetres to centimetres and often lack adaptive manoeuvrability, which limits their effectiveness, especially in hard-to-reach areas of the body. 

So the international team led by Dr. Mariana Medina-Sánchez has produced self-propelled, steerable magnetic microcatheters for precision medicine. “The catheter is produced using a scalable method that incorporates magnetic micro- or nanoparticles programmed to respond to external magnetic fields. It facilitates smooth, controlled movements, similar to the undulations of a flagellum, thus easing navigation through narrow, complex channels in the human body without exerting forces that could damage tissue,” explained Zhi Chen, lead author of the Advanced Materials paper and researcher in the Nanobiosystems group at nanoGUNE. Unlike traditional mechanical thrust, which can generate high forces and risk perforation, this system significantly reduces the force applied to the tissue. In addition, the magnetic particles act as contrast agents, allowing the catheter to be displayed by means of ultrasound during the procedure.

“The device has proven effective in delivering sperm directly into the fallopian tubes and in the precise delivery of embryos, with the prospect of increasing the chances of success in cases of infertility and recurrent miscarriage,” added Medina-Sánchez. The team has validated the technology in three-dimensional models and in animal models, an essential step in ensuring that the technique is safe before its medical application. Another important factor in this preclinical study is the use of biocompatible materials, several of which have already been approved for clinical use, thus opening the door to future clinical trials.

Another major advantage of the device is that the catheter remains connected with the exterior throughout the procedure. “It is controlled by external magnetic fields, fulfils its function, and is then removed completely,” said the researcher. This approach prevents materials from getting left behind in the body, bearing in mind that the long-term biological behaviour of these materials has yet to be studied. 

“It’s an innovative combination of microrobotics and conventional small-scale catheters,” pointed out Medina-Sánchez. This combination allows users to take advantage of the benefits of microrobotics, such as precision and control in confined spaces, together with the familiarity and safety of clinical catheters, which can be removed completely after the procedure. That way, a crucial intermediate step towards the clinical application of new medical microrobotic technologies is established”.

The methods and devices presented in this study are paving the way for new applications in precision medicine, particularly in reproductive medicine, with the potential for expanding into other biomedical fields such as interventional radiology. The technology is protected by a patent application and belongs to nanoGUNE's industrial property assets.

The authors point out that, going forward, these advances could lead to fully automated assisted fertilisation processes. However, their incorporation into clinical practice will require overcoming significant technical, biological, and ethical challenges, while ensuring, at all times, safe, effective procedures focused on patient well-being.