Matryoshka-Inspired Micro-Origami Capsules to Enhance Loading, Encapsulation, and Transport of Drugs

Abstract Stimuli-responsive hydrogels are promising candidates for use in the targeted delivery of drugs using microrobotics. These devices enable the delivery and sustained release of quantities of drugs several times greater than their dry weight and are responsive to external stimuli. However, existing systems have two major drawbacks: (1) severe drug leakage before reaching the targeted areas within the body and (2) impeded locomotion through liquids due to the inherent hydrophilicity of hydrogels. This article outlines an approach to the assembly of hydrogel-based microcapsules in which one device is assembled within another to prevent drug leakage during transport. Inspired by the famous Russian stacking dolls (Matryoshka), the proposed scheme not only improves drug-loading efficiency but also facilitates the movement of hydrogel-based microcapsules driven by an external magnetic field. At room temperature, drug leakage from the hydrogel matrix is 90%. However, at body temperature the device folds u...