ANGIE · Project

Magnetic Nanodevices That Deliver Drugs Precisely Where Needed Inside Blood Vessels

healthPrototypeTRL 3Thin data (2/5)

h2020-angie.eu

Imagine tiny magnetic robots, smaller than a grain of sand, that doctors can steer through your bloodstream like a remote-controlled car — delivering medicine exactly where it's needed. Right now, when you take a pill or get an injection, the drug floods your whole body even though only one spot needs it. ANGIE built a system that uses magnets to guide these nanodevices through blood vessels to reach places no catheter or needle can get to. They tested it specifically for treating stroke, where a blood clot blocks the brain and every second counts.

By the numbers

EUR 4,000,000

EU funding for development

consortium partners

countries in consortium

SMEs in consortium

total project deliverables

demo deliverables (prototype system + 3D vascular models)

33%

industry partner ratio

The business problem

What needed solving

Delivering drugs to a precise spot inside the body remains one of medicine's biggest unsolved challenges. Current methods flood the entire body with medication, causing side effects and wasting most of the drug before it reaches the target. For conditions like stroke, where a clot blocks blood flow to the brain, getting treatment to the exact blockage site fast enough can mean the difference between recovery and permanent damage.

The solution

What was built

The project built a prototype electromagnetic system for navigating and steering nanodevices, plus perfused 3D models of blood vessel networks with varying complexity and clot positions for testing. Across 12 total deliverables, the team created the scientific and engineering foundation for magnetically guided drug delivery through the vascular system.

Audience

Who needs this

Medical device companies developing next-generation interventional toolsPharmaceutical companies investing in targeted drug delivery platformsClinical robotics firms expanding into intravascular navigationHospital networks and stroke centers seeking better treatment optionsMedtech startups building on magnetic actuation technology

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Medical device manufacturing

enterprise

Target: Companies developing interventional or minimally invasive medical devices

If you are a medical device manufacturer dealing with the limits of catheter-based delivery systems — this project developed a prototype electromagnetic navigation system and steerable nanodevices that can reach vascular regions beyond catheter access. With 4 million EUR in EU funding and backing from advisors at Siemens and CSL Behring, the technology targets chronic disease treatment starting with thrombotic stroke.

Pharmaceutical delivery systems

enterprise

Target: Pharma companies working on targeted drug delivery platforms

If you are a pharma company struggling with drug side effects from systemic delivery — this project created wireless nanodevices that navigate the vascular system to deliver therapeutics locally. The consortium of 9 partners across 6 countries built perfused 3D vascular models to test navigation through different vessel tortuosity and clot sites, giving you a validated testing platform for localized delivery.

Clinical robotics and navigation

mid-size

Target: Companies building surgical robotics or image-guided navigation systems

If you are a robotics company looking to expand into intravascular navigation — this project developed magnetic manipulation technology for steering devices at the nanoscale inside blood vessels. With 4 university partners providing fundamental research and 3 industry partners contributing commercialization know-how, the consortium produced a prototype electromagnetic system ready for further development toward clinical use.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or access this technology?

The project was funded with EUR 4,000,000 under a Research and Innovation Action (RIA), meaning results are typically available for licensing from consortium partners. Specific licensing terms would need to be negotiated with ETH Zurich as coordinator. IP generated under EU RIA projects stays with the consortium partners who created it.

How close is this to working at industrial or clinical scale?

The project produced a prototype electromagnetic navigation system and perfused 3D vascular models for testing. This places the technology at experimental validation stage — functional in lab conditions but not yet tested in clinical trials. Scaling to clinical use would require regulatory approval pathways and significant further development.

What intellectual property exists and who owns it?

Under Horizon 2020 RIA rules, IP belongs to the partners who generated it. The consortium includes 9 partners across 6 countries with 4 SMEs, meaning IP is likely distributed. ETH Zurich as coordinator would be the first point of contact for licensing discussions.

What regulatory hurdles should we expect?

Nanodevices for in-body drug delivery face stringent medical device and pharmaceutical regulations (EU MDR, potential FDA approval). The project focused on building the scientific baseline and prototypes — regulatory pathway work would be a next step for any commercialization effort.

What was actually demonstrated and tested?

The project delivered a prototype electromagnetic system for navigation and actuation, plus perfused 3D models of the vascular network with different tortuosity and clot sites. These 2 demo deliverables out of 12 total show the technology was validated in laboratory vascular models, not yet in living systems.

Can this integrate with existing hospital equipment?

The project had advisory support from Siemens and CSL Behring, suggesting alignment with existing medical imaging and therapeutic infrastructure was considered. However, the electromagnetic navigation system is a standalone prototype that would need dedicated integration engineering for hospital deployment.

Consortium

Who built it

The ANGIE consortium brings together 9 partners from 6 European countries (Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Greece, Spain, Portugal), led by ETH Zurich — one of the world's top technical universities. The mix of 4 universities, 3 industry partners, 1 research organization, and 1 other partner gives it a strong research backbone with 33% industry involvement. Notably, 4 of the 9 partners are SMEs, suggesting smaller specialized companies were brought in for niche expertise. While Siemens and CSL Behring are mentioned as advisory supporters rather than formal consortium members, their involvement signals that major medtech and pharma players see potential in this technology. For a business looking to engage, ETH Zurich is the gateway, but the distributed IP across 6 countries means licensing conversations may involve multiple partners.

EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICHCoordinator · CH
VERHAERT NEW PRODUCTS & SERVICES NVparticipant · BE
PANEPISTIMIO KRITISparticipant · EL
STROKE ALLIANCE FOR EUROPEparticipant · BE
UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONAparticipant · ES
JULIUS-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAT WURZBURGparticipant · DE

How to reach the team

ETH Zurich (Switzerland) — contact through university technology transfer office or project website

Order a report on this consortium See EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the ANGIE team? SciTransfer can connect you with the right consortium partner for your specific application — from licensing the navigation system to accessing the 3D vascular testing platform.

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