MoSBOTs: Magnetically Driven Biotemplated MoS₂-Based Microrobots for Biomedical Applications

2D layered molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanomaterials are a promising platform for biomedical applications, particularly due to its high biocompatibility characteristics, mechanical and electrical properties, and flexible functionalization. Additionally, the bandgap of MoS₂ can be engineered to absorb light over a wide range of wavelengths, which can then be transformed into local heat for applications in photothermal tissue ablation and regeneration. However, limitations such as poor stability of aqueous dispersions and low accumulation in affected tissues impair the full realization of MoS₂ for biomedical applications. To overcome such challenges, herein, multifunctional MoS₂-based magnetic helical microrobots (MoSBOTs) using cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis are proposed as biotemplate for therapeutic and biorecognition applications. The cytocompatible microrobots combine remote magnetic navigation with MoS₂ photothermal activity under near-infrared irradiation. The resulting photoabsorbent features of the MoSBOTs are exploited for targeted photothermal ablation of cancer cells and on-the-fly biorecognition in minimally invasive oncotherapy applications. The proposed multi-therapeutic MoSBOTs hold considerable potential for a myriad of cancer treatment and diagnostic-related applications, circumventing current challenges of ablative procedures.