A UCSD professor said his team has developed a micro-fish, the size of a human hair.
Professor Shao Chen Chen said the micro-robots are 3D-printed and can carry drugs, once injected into a patient.
Professor Chen said the fish can also swim to a targeted location inside the human body, directed by a magnet.
“We put a magnetic particle in the head of the fish so you can use magnetic field to guide the movement,” said Chen.
He said they've even developed a way where the fish can act as a sponge to soak up toxic materials.
“It can detoxify surrounding medium points, blood streams or others,” said Chen.
If this reminds you of the 1966 movie, "Fantastic Voyage", it should. Chen said that was his team’s inspiration for their latest tech development.
If the idea of a robotic fish swimming inside of you to help cure you sounds extreme, Professor Chen said it'll still be a few years before this technology is used.
He said they're now looking for private and federal funding to advance this technology, with the hopes of bringing it to the public.
