Multimaterial 3D Nanoprinting of a 2 Fr Soft Robotic Microcatheter for Transarterial Chemoembolization of Liver Cancer

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE)—i.e., the delivery of chemotherapeutics directly into the vasculature of liver tumors—necessitates the use of guidewire-microcatheter systems to navigate tortuous vascular networks. These guide-wires and microcatheters typically lack effective steering controls, making successful navigation through geometrically complex anatomy challenging. Recent advancements in the area of soft microrobotics could offer a pathway to remotely steerable microcatheters at size scales relevant to TACE procedures; however, the difficulties associated with fabricating such systems have represented a critical hurdle. To overcome this barrier, here we present a multimaterial additive nanomanufacturing— or "three-dimensional (3D) nanoprinting"—strategy to achieve steerable soft robotic microcatheters that not only facilitate on-demand regulation of catheter tip deflection, but also comprise 2 French (Fr) outer dimensions (i.e., ⌀ = 666 μm) that are suitable for clinical chemoembolization of liver cancers. Specifically, we use "Two-Photon Direct Laser Writing (DLW)" to 3D nanoprint 1.5 mm-tall microcatheters capable of unidirectional tip bending of approximately 140° as well as mediating delivery of a fluidic payload. Experimental results for navigating the soft robotic microcatheter through a vascular phantom to deliver fluid payloads to target sites suggest the presented strategy holds promise for TACE as well as additional endovascular interventions and minimally invasive surgeries.