A tiny microbot that can deliver drugs more effectively for conditions like age-related macular degeneration has been designed by researchers at the Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems (IRIS) in Zurich.

The device would allow for prolonged and targeted drug release, since it can remain in the eye for months. It can also be used to position a biodegradable drug capsule in the eye and then be directly removed with a magnetic needle.

Currently, the most common treatment for macular degeneration is a drug injection into the eye. But the drug quickly diffuses through the retina, requiring regular injections to keep reaching the affected regions.

In the video below, you can see the microbot roam around a deceased pig’s eye during a mobility experiment. It was injected with a needle and then maneuvered with a novel electromagnetic system.

Video credit: ETH Zurich/IRIS