Dust-sized robots may soon clear sinus infections without antibiotics

Researchers from Guangxi University, Shenzhen University, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong have developed tiny, light-activated microrobots called CBMRs (copper single–atom–loaded bismuth oxoiodide photocatalytic microrobots) designed to treat bacterial sinus infections without antibiotics. These dust-sized robots can be injected into the sinus cavity via the nostrils and precisely guided by a magnetic field and a specially designed magnetically guided optical fiber. Once at the infection site, visible light activates the microrobots, enabling them to mechanically disrupt bacterial biofilms and generate antibacterial reactive oxygen species (ROS) that kill bacteria. This approach offers a noninvasive, drug-free alternative that minimizes antibiotic resistance and avoids the need for invasive surgery. Preclinical trials demonstrated the effectiveness of CBMRs in eliminating bacterial biofilms and clearing infections in animal models, including rabbits and pig sinuses, without causing tissue damage or side effects. The microrobots are naturally expelled