Soft-Robotic Magnetic Microfluidic Catheter for Delivery of Aqueous-Based Dual-Component Embolic Formulations

Mattmann, M.; Franco, C.; Ye, H.; Landers, F.; Hertle, L.; Fischer, P.; Ochsenbein, N.; Ruetten, M.; Vale, J. P.; Lussi, J.; Puigmarti, J.; Sotto Mayor, T.; Wendel-Garcia, P. D.; Geleff, S.; Farha, K.; Farha, S.; Gruber, P.; Weisskopf, M.; Pane, S.; Nelson, B.

doi:10.64898/2026.09.14.751422

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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.09.14.751422

Soft-Robotic Magnetic Microfluidic Catheter for Delivery of Aqueous-Based Dual-Component Embolic Formulations

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Abstract

Transcatheter embolization requires materials that can be steered through tortuous vessels, solidify rapidly in situ, remain clearly visible under fluoroscopy, and, ideally, carry therapeutic cargo without harming tissue. To meet these requirements, we present a fully water-based, two-component PEI-PEG hydrogel delivered through a soft-robotic, microfluidic catheter that keeps the precursors separate until they meet in a millimetre-scale mixing chamber at the tip. Fast amide cross-linking converts the liquid pair into a self-supporting gel within seconds, eliminating organic solvents and preventing catheter blockage. By adjusting precursor ratio and flow regime, the gel's stiffness and viscosity can be tuned over orders of magnitude, with the same chemistry allowing to occlude both high-flow arteries and fragile micro-vessels. The platform was validated in three escalating models. First, in ex-vivo perfused human placenta, the hydrogel filled targeted branches without reflux or fragmentation, demonstrating controlled delivery in clinically relevant vasculature. Next, in three porcine embolizations, splenic, hepatic and ascending pharyngeal arteries, the material achieved stable, selective occlusion with no migration, vasospasm or recanalization, showing seamless compatibility with standard interventional workflows. Finally, in rats bearing orthotopic liver tumours, drug-loaded hydrogel delivered through the hepatic artery concentrated doxorubicin inside tumours while sparing healthy tissue, confirming its potential for precision chemoembolization. These results position the PEI-PEG hydrogel and microfluidic catheter as a unified, image-guided platform that couples robust mechanical occlusion with site-specific drug delivery, offering a biocompatible alternative to current liquid embolics and expanding the therapeutic reach of minimally invasive embolization procedures.

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Mattmann, M., Franco, C., Ye, H., Landers, F., Hertle, L., Fischer, P., Ochsenbein, N., Ruetten, M., Vale, J. P., Lussi, J., Puigmarti, J., Sotto Mayor, T., Wendel-Garcia, P. D., Geleff, S., Farha, K., Farha, S., Gruber, P., Weisskopf, M., Pane, S., Nelson, B.. 2026-09-16. Soft-Robotic Magnetic Microfluidic Catheter for Delivery of Aqueous-Based Dual-Component Embolic Formulations. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.09.14.751422

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