Small-scale robots for biofilm eradication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12433295-B2
Application number	US-201917291326-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 25, 2019
Priority date	Nov 28, 2018
Publication date	Oct 7, 2025
Grant date	Oct 7, 2025

Abstract

Systems and methods for eradicating biofilms by killing bacteria within a biofilm, degrading the matrix and removing biofilm debris are disclosed herein. The disclosed subject matter provides techniques for administering a suspension of H 2 O 2 and iron oxide nanoparticles to substantially eradicate bacteria within a biofilm matrix and degrade the bio film matrix, actuating the iron oxide nanoparticles for assembly into biohybrid robots suitable for removal of biofilm debris, and moving the biohybrid robots to remove the bio film debris from accessible or enclosed surfaces. In some embodiments, the disclosed subject matter can include embedding iron oxide nanoparticles in a hydrogel to form a soft robotic structure, administering the soft robotic structure to a biofilm-covered location, and magnetizing the soft robot structure to substantially eradicate bacteria within a biofilm matrix, degrade the biofilm matrix, and remove biofilm debris from enclosed surfaces.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for eradicating bacteria within a biofilm matrix, matrix degradation, and biofilm removal comprising:
a suspension of H 2 O 2 and iron oxide nanoparticles, adapted to substantially eradicate the bacteria and degrade the biofilm matrix; wherein the iron oxide nanoparticles are embedded in a hydrogel to form a soft robotic structure configured to enable eradication of biofilm from confined locations; and
a magnetic element, adapted to actuate the iron oxide nanoparticles by a magnetic field for assembly into biohybrid robots suitable for removal of biofilm debris caused by bacterial eradication and matrix degradation,
wherein the soft robotic structure is vane-shaped or double helicoid-shaped, adapted to scrape and displace the biofilm debris from a wall of an enclosed surface.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the suspension comprises 2000 micrograms of iron oxide nanoparticles per milliliter of 50% glycerol.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the suspension comprises at least one enzyme, adapted to degrade the biofilm matrix.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one enzyme includes mutanase and dextranase.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the suspension comprises 1% H 2 O 2 and 1.75 U/8.75 U mutanase/dextranase.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic element comprises at least one of a permanent magnet or an array of electromagnets, adapted to apply a magnetic field to the biofilm to actuate the iron oxide nanoparticles to assemble into biohybrid robots.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the permanent magnet moves the biohybrid robots, adapted to remove the biofilm debris from the biofilm matrix.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the suspension of H 2 O 2 and iron oxide nanoparticles is administered to a tooth canal for endodontic disinfection or biofilm removal.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the biohybrid robots are adapted to move through isthmuses to disrupt biofilm and remove the biofilm debris.

Assignees

• Univ Pennsylvania

Inventors

• Koo Hyun
• Stebe Kathleen
• Kumar Vijay
• Hunter Elizabeth
• Steager Edward
• Brink Evan

Classifications

• C12N9/2405

  Glucanases · CPC title

• H01F1/36

  in the form of particles {(H01F1/346, H01F1/348 and H01F1/38 take precedence)} · CPC title

• C12Y302/01059

  Glucan endo-1,3-alpha-glucosidase (3.2.1.59) · CPC title

• C12Y302/01011

  Dextranase (3.2.1.11) · CPC title

• C12N9/2454

  Dextranase (3.2.1.11) · CPC title