Drug Deliery for Micro-/Nanorobots: Progress and Challenges

Abstract: Due to micro-/nanorobots having several propulsion mechanisms, drug delivery through micro/nanorobots is moving to the forefront of nanomedical research. However, low biocompatibility and low imaging efficiency have become major obstacles in the further development of micro- /nanorobots. This article firstly introduces the application of micro-/nanorobots in the field of nanomedicine in recent years, expresses the importance of micro-/nanorobots in terms of nanomedicine, and then summarizes and compares several propulsion mechanisms. The improvement and optimization of the preparation methodologies and structures in terms of micro-/nanorobots are also reviewed. The imaging effect and biocompatibility of micro-/nanorobots have been improved to the extent that it is suitable for clinical medicine while ensuring the efficiency of drug delivery. Then, the advantages of different propulsion mechanisms, imaging effects, and biocompatibility are compared. The aim of the review is to enable people of various knowledge backgrounds to learn directly and choose suitable modified methods based on realistic situations. Finally, future development trends and further prospects of micro-/nanorobots are discussed.