The gastrointestinal (GI) tract plays a crucial role in keeping us healthy. It includes organs like the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, and rectum, helping to digest food, absorb nutrients, and remove waste. However, in recent years, there has been a sharp rise in conditions affecting this system, especially GI cancers.
To diagnose and treat these problems, doctors usually use a tool called an endoscope — a flexible tube with a camera inserted into the body. While useful, endoscopies can often be uncomfortable for patients and cannot always reach deep or awkward areas of the digestive system.
This challenge has inspired scientists and engineers to develop better, less invasive ways to explore the GI tract. A team at the University of Macau in China has come up with an exciting new solution: tiny soft robots that can move through the digestive system and deliver medicine directly to the areas that need it. Their work was published in the *International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing*.
### Soft Robots Inspired by Nature
These soft robots are made from bendable, flexible materials that are safer and more comfortable for the body than traditional rigid tools. What makes them especially interesting is their inspiration — the golden wheel spider. This spider is known for its unique rolling motion, which helps it travel across tough terrain.
The researchers used this natural design to create robots that move in a similar rolling fashion, allowing them to navigate the complex pathways of the GI tract more easily.
### How the Robots Work
The robots are controlled remotely by an external magnetic field, meaning they don’t require motors or batteries inside their bodies. This design makes them smaller and less invasive than conventional tools.
Thanks to their innovative structure, the robots can climb surfaces at any angle — even over mucus or folds inside the body — and can handle height changes up to 8 centimeters.
### Successful Initial Tests
In their initial experiments, the scientists tested the robots on parts of animal GI tracts to evaluate their movement and drug delivery capabilities. The results were promising: the robots successfully reached their targets without harming any tissue.
Additionally, the robots were used alongside an endoscope to provide real-time video, giving doctors clear visual guidance of the robots’ locations.
### Future Implications
According to the researchers, these successful experiments mark a major advance in using soft robots for medical treatments. Due to their precise movement, these robots have the potential to be used in minimally invasive treatments of GI cancers, potentially replacing or supporting traditional endoscopy techniques.
Next, the team plans to test the robots in live animals. If those trials prove successful and safe, human trials may follow.
### The Promise of Bio-Inspired Soft Robotics
This research highlights the amazing possibilities of combining bio-inspired designs with soft robotics in medicine. By studying how nature solves problems, scientists are discovering creative new ways to improve human health through technology.
—
### Interested in Gut Health?
If you care about gut health, consider reading studies that reveal fascinating insights:
– How your gut can help lower your blood pressure
– From shock to awe: a zap in the gut could be the new insulin for people with diabetes
– A surprising link between gut health and eye disease risk
– How gut troubles could signal future Parkinson’s disease
—
*This study is published in the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing.*
https://knowridge.com/2025/10/spider-shaped-soft-robots-could-do-minimally-invasive-gut-surgery/
