Nature-Inspired Magnetic Cilia for Detection and Early Intervention of Vascular Stenosis.

Abstract

Biological fluids provide critical cues of tissue health, yet most monitoring technologies are constrained to superficial signals, leaving deeper pathophysiological changes-such as those driving vascular stenosis-undetected until advanced stages. Here we report a bioinspired magnetic artificial cilia (MAC) platform that couples wireless flow sensing with localized drug delivery for early vascular intervention. The system integrates mechanically responsive EcoFlex-NdFeB composite cilia with reactive oxygen species (ROS)-activated nanovesicles (NVs). Under pathological hemodynamic disturbances, MAC deformation reorients the programmed remanent magnetization and redistributes the stray magnetic field, enabling near-field external detection in without implanted electronics. Concurrently, thioketal-functionalized NVs release anti-inflammatory agents in response to elevated ROS at stenotic sites. In vitro flow simulations and endothelial cell co-culture experiments validate the platform's dual capacity for real-time hemodynamic readout and on-demand therapeutic release. By uniting wireless mechanosensing with autonomous biochemical regulation, this hybrid system establishes a paradigm for intelligent, minimally invasive management of fluid-associated pathologies and offers a pathway toward early diagnosis and precision therapy.