Polish Scientists Build Robot for Precise Drug Delivery to the Eye

Polish researchers are developing a robotic device that would let ophthalmologists deliver drugs to an exact spot in the retina, according to an announcement from the International Centre for Translational Eye Research (ICTER), which operates at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

The system is aimed at procedures such as gene therapy and biopsies. Five specialized research groups within ICTER are currently carrying out preclinical work on the technology. The project is led by Prof. Maciej Wojtkowski, a physicist who specializes in physical optics and its medical applications.

Micrometer precision with 3D imaging

The device relies on micromanipulation assisted by a robotic system that locates instruments using three-dimensional imaging. The robot's mechanism will be integrated with the imaging of the site where a drug is injected or a biopsy taken, so surgeons can determine the exact position of instruments inside the eyeball during an operation.

The precision requirement is demanding. Some chemical and pharmaceutical substances must reach delicate tissues such as the retina with accuracy down to micrometers, or thousandths of a millimeter, a level where robots outperform the human hand. The researchers stress that final decisions about the robot's actions are always made by a qualified physician or system operator.

Possible uses and current stage

The team points to several applications, including early detection of diabetic retinopathy, a diabetes complication that damages blood vessels in the retina and can lead to severe vision loss or blindness. The platform is also meant to support new treatments for blindness of various causes.

For now, the researchers are running ex vitro tests in controlled laboratory conditions, using glassware, test tubes and cell cultures. They are preparing to move on to in vivo studies on living organisms.

The project is carried out under the International Research Agendas programme run by the Foundation for Polish Science. Its total budget is 30 million zlotys, funded by the EU's European Funds for a Modern Economy programme.