Scientists from China and Hong Kong say they have created tiny robots that can help clear serious bacterial infections deep inside the sinuses, without the need for surgery or drugs.

Published in the journal Science Robotics, the study explains how these microrobots, smaller than a strand of human hair, can be guided using magnets and light.

They work by breaking down tough bacterial layers and creating substances that kill bacteria.

A sinus infection, also known as sinusitis or rhinosinusitis, is an inflammation of the sinuses.

The sinuses are the air-filled spaces in the bones around the nose and eyes.

When the tissues inside these spaces become swollen or infected, they can cause symptoms like a stuffy or runny nose, facial pain or pressure, headaches, and sometimes, a reduced sense of smell or taste.

In tests on animals, researchers injected these microrobots through the nose into the sinus cavity.

Once inside, the robots were guided to the infection site and activated to produce heat and chemical reactions to destroy the bacteria.

These robots were able to safely remove infections in rabbits, with the dead bacteria being cleared naturally.

The scientists at the Chinese University in Hong Kong and universities in Guangxi, Shenzhen, Jiangsu, Yangzhou and Macau, hope that the new approach can reduce the need for antibiotics and other common sinusitis treatments.

The researchers believe that within five to 10 years, these microrobots could also be used to treat infections in the bladder, intestines and other hard-to-reach areas.

Scientists around the world are working on even more advanced versions that could travel through the bloodstream, offering new ways to fight infections and deliver medicine more precisely. – dpa