A magnetic patch robot with photothermal-activated multi-modality for targeted anti-postoperative adhesion

Abstract Adhesive patches offer an effective approach for wound closure, making them highly suitable for biomedical applications. However, conventional patches often face limitations such as dual-sided adhesion, lack of shape adaptability, and limited maneuverability, which restrict their applications in deeper tissues. In this paper, we develop a magnetic patch robot (PatchBot), for targeted Janus adhesion with tissues. The PatchBot features a unique triple-layer structure, with adhesive, shape-morphing, and anti-adhesive layers, each fulfilling roles to support targeted attachment, enable shape transformation, and prevent unwanted adhesion to surrounding tissues. The Janus adhesion of the PatchBot was extensively demonstrated across a variety of tissues. A localized near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation was used to induce programmable shape transformations. Magnetic actuation of the PatchBot for targeted adhesion was successfully demonstrated in ex vivo porcine stomach tissue. NIR light-activated shape-morphing and multimodal magnetic actuation significantly enhance its maneuverability and adaptability in confined in vivo environments while ensuring the structural integrity of the adhesive surface during deployment. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the feasibility of using PatchBot for targeted wound adhesion, showing its potential for minimally invasive, precision therapies in complex in vivo environments.