# Autonomous Grippers in the Gastrointestinal Tract

> **NIH NIH R01** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $675,898

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ ABSTRACT
Peptide macromolecules represent the mainstay of treatment for conditions affecting hundreds of millions
of people across the globe. For example, insulin is the mainstay of treatment for many patients with diabetes
mellitus. In addition, several inflammatory autoimmune disorders (such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease – IBD,
systemic lupus erythematosus – SLE, rheumatoid arthritis – RA, and others) are often treated with monoclonal
antibodies (mAbs), such as infliximab or adalimumab. Both insulin and these mAbs are peptide macromolecules
and, as such, cannot be given by an oral route, instead requiring injection or infusion.
Intravenous and injectable delivery routes have been shown to have several critical downsides when
compared to oral delivery. First, patients have shown less compliance towards injectables, leading to subsequent
complications, escalating costs and worse outcomes. In addition, injectable medications are often associated
with complications (such as infection ranging from localized to sepsis, local tissue damage, thrombosis, allergic
reactions ranging from infusion reactions to anaphylaxis, and others). Furthermore, some of these regimens
require sterilization, storage, and administration in a medical setting, which is not readily available in some parts
of the world and if available, result in escalating cost to insurance payers and by extesion the healthcare system
and patients. The net effect is ultimately measured in higher price, and lower outcomes.
 Peptide macromolecules cannot be given orally because their (1) inactivation by pH and proteases in the
GI tract, and (2) negligible transport across the tight epithelial cell junctions in the intestine due to their large size
(5-150 kDa or more). Here we propose to develop a platform of drug delivery that is composed of (A) a capsule
that is swallowed, and that contains (B) multiple millimeter scale, autonomous microrobots (theragrippers) that
can carry the active peptide macromolecule drug, latch onto the GI mucosa and inject their active drug load into
the systemic circulation. We are developing the oral capsule as part of other efforts and will focus here on
developing theragrippers for peptide macromolecule delivery trans-intestinal mucosa to the systemic circulation.
 The proposal is built on 10+ years of successful and productive collaboration between the labs of Dr.
Selaru (gastroenterologist, scientist) and Dr. Gracias (engineer, scientist) at Johns Hopkins. The original
concept, as well as first-generation design and manufacturing of the theragrippers are a result of this
collaboration. The project has been supported in part by the NIBIB through an R01 (2014-2018) and a renewal
R01 (2018 - 2022). The current proposal builds on the prior results, brings compelling preliminary data, and
seeks a renewal R01 to validate the innovative hypothesis outlined here. The successful development of this
project will affect not only patients with insulin-depen...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10444385
- **Project number:** 2R01EB017742-09
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** David H Gracias
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $675,898
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2014-09-26 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10444385

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10444385, Autonomous Grippers in the Gastrointestinal Tract (2R01EB017742-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10444385. Licensed CC0.

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