Multi-layer coated nanorobot end-effector for efficient drug delivery

A multi-layer coating enabled drug delivery method has been developed here to augment AFM based nanorobot technology. Being developed for over a decade, the AFM based nanorobot has been established as a key concept of nanorobotics, and has been applied in nanomaterial and biomedical related research. In these AFM based nanorobots, however, the AFM tip was mainly used as a mechanical end-effector to execute pushing and cutting in previous development. With its strong application potential in drug discovery and cell biology, AFM based nanorobots carrying functionalized end-effector are in a strong demand. Previous functionalization of AFM tip was aimed for single molecular interaction measurement. It cannot meet the high volume drug loading for localized drug delivery. Here, we developed a multi-layer coating method to load a large amount of protein on AFM tip for long-time release (~ 40 hours). Combined with the AFM based nanorobot previously developed in our lab, this technology would enable scientists to study mechanical cellular response to protein stimulations.