	US 12,433,295 B2
	Small-scale robots for biofilm eradication
Hyun Koo, Philadelphia, PA (US); Kathleen Stebe, Penn Valley, PA (US); Vijay Kumar, Wilmington, DE (US); Elizabeth Hunter, Philadelphia, PA (US); Edward Steager, Media, PA (US); and Evan Brink, Philadelphia, PA (US)
Assigned to THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, Philadelphia, PA (US)
Appl. No. 17/291,326
Filed by THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, Philadelphia, PA (US)
PCT Filed Nov. 25, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/062941 § 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 5, 2021, PCT Pub. No. WO2020/112601, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 4, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/772,306, filed on Nov. 28, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0000119 A1, Jan. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. A01N 59/16 (2006.01); A01N 25/04 (2006.01); A61K 6/52 (2020.01); B82Y 25/00 (2011.01); C12N 9/24 (2006.01); C12N 9/46 (2006.01); F03G 7/00 (2006.01); H01F 1/36 (2006.01); B82Y 35/00 (2011.01); B82Y 40/00 (2011.01)

CPC A01N 59/16 (2013.01) [A01N 25/04 (2013.01); A61K 6/52 (2020.01); C12N 9/2405 (2013.01); C12N 9/2454 (2013.01); F03G 7/017 (2021.08); H01F 1/36 (2013.01); B82Y 25/00 (2013.01); B82Y 35/00 (2013.01); B82Y 40/00 (2013.01); C12Y 302/01011 (2013.01); C12Y 302/01059 (2013.01)]

9 Claims

1. A system for eradicating bacteria within a biofilm matrix, matrix degradation, and biofilm removal comprising:

a suspension of H₂O₂and 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.