Intelligent Magnetic Microrobots with Fluorescent Internal Memory for Monitoring Intragastric Acidity

This study investigates the dynamic fluctuations of pH caused by gastric acid secretion, a process of both biological and clinical significance, with microrobots. Abnormal patterns of acidity often indicate gastrointestinal diseases, underlying the importance of precise intragastric pH monitoring. Traditional methods using fluorescent probes face challenges due to their faint solid-state fluorescence, limited target specificity, and accuracy. To overcome these obstacles, pH-responsive fluorescent organic microparticles decorated with magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles are engineered. These microrobots exhibit a unique fluorescence switching capability at a critical pH, enabling the monitoring of gastric acidity. The magnetic part of these microrobots ensures magnetic maneuverability to enable targeted navigation. The microrobots’ fluorescence switching mechanism is elucidated through comprehensive spectroscopy, microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analyses, revealing molecular-level structural transformations upon interaction with gastric acid and antacids. These transformations, specifically protonation and deprotonation of the microrobots’ fluorescent components, prompt a distinct fluorescence response correlating with pH shifts. In vitro and ex vivo experiments, simulating stomach conditions, confirm the microrobots’ efficacy in pH-responsive imaging. The results showcase the promising diagnostic potential of microrobots for gastrointestinal tract diseases, marking a significant advancement in imaging-based medical diagnostics at targeted locations.