Abstract:
Advances in engineering have enabled a new generation of soft medical robots and devices with unique theranostic capabilities for interfacing with delicate organs. However, challenges remain in achieving spatial and temporal precision in extreme body environments, particularly within the digestive system. This talk will highlight three recent preclinical innovations addressing these challenges: (i) BIOSENTER: a bioinspired soft enteroscopic robot for locomotion, steering, and intervention in the deep small intestine. (ii) IngRI: an ingestible, battery-free, tissue-adhering robotic interface for prolonged gut electrostimulation. (iii) e-GLUE: an electroadhesive hydrogel interface for enhanced mucosal retention of ingestible devices. These platforms demonstrate significant potential for managing chronic digestive conditions and beyond.
Speaker profile:
Dr. Binbin Ying is a Banting Fellow and a senior postdoctoral researcher in the labs of Prof. Giovanni Traverso and Prof. Robert Langer at MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Ying earned his PhD degree from McGill University under the supervision of Profs. Xinyu Liu and Jianyu Li in 2020 and worked as a visiting PhD scientist at the University of Toronto from 2018 to 2020. Dr. Ying is dedicated to developing and translating soft medical devices to tackle critical and unresolved challenges in human health. He has published over 20 scientific papers and is the inventor of several granted and pending patents. His research achievements have been recognized with numerous honors and awards, including the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship, the NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship, and the Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad. Beyond research, Dr. Ying is passionate about mentorship and contributing to the scientific community. He co-founded The Martlets Society, a webinar series that connects young scholars and fosters the exchange of expertise.