Nanorobots: Trailblazing the Future of Pharmaceuticals Through Targeted Therapy and Disease Monitoring

This review explores the design principles, sensor mechanisms, and propulsion systems of nanorobots, highlighting their applications in targeted drug delivery, disease monitoring, and broader biomedical fields. The objective is to provide a comprehensive overview of how nanorobots transform pharmaceutical delivery systems and precision therapy. A structured literature search was conducted using electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Keywords such as Nanorobots, Nanorobot propulsion, Biosensors, Magnetically driven nanorobots, Electric field-driven nanorobots, Biomedical applications, and Enzyme-driven nanorobots were used. Articles published between 2010 and 2024 were considered. Inclusion criteria involved peer-reviewed articles focusing on nanorobot design, propulsion systems, sensor mechanisms, and clinical applications. Non-English articles and non-peer-reviewed content were excluded. A total of 212 relevant studies were initially identified through a comprehensive search across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 94 studies were selected for final analysis, focusing on the integration of sensors, propulsion systems, and energy sources in nanorobots. The review revealed that nanorobots utilize advanced sensor systems (nanocantilevers and biosensors) for molecular recognition and site-specific targeting. These sensors detect biochemical and mechanical changes, aiding precise navigation. Powered by external forces (magnetic, electric, light, ultrasound) or internal biochemical energy (enzymatic or chemical reactions), propulsion mechanisms enable controlled movement and drug delivery. Nanorobots constructed from silicon, polymers, and piezoelectric compounds exhibit functional adaptability. Their applications span targeted drug delivery, oncology, neurosurgery, vascular medicine, and environmental remediation. Nanorobots represent a trailblazing pharmaceutical innovation, offering highly specific, efficient, and minimally invasive drug delivery and disease monitoring capabilities. Their combination of biosensing and propulsion mechanisms enhances targeted delivery and clinical efficacy. Continued development in nanorobotic systems holds the potential to revolutionize clinical treatments and improve patient outcomes across multiple therapeutic domains.