Breaking Through Physiological Barriers: Nanorobotic Strategies for Active Drug Delivery

Self-propelled micro/nanomotors (MNMs) represent a groundbreaking advancement in precision drug delivery, offering potential solutions to persistent challenges such as systemic toxicity, limited bioavailability, and nonspecific distribution. By transforming various energy sources into mechanical motion, MNMs are able to autonomously navigate through complex physiological environments, facilitating targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to previously inaccessible regions. However, to achieve efficient in vivo drug delivery, biomedical MNMs must demonstrate their ability to overcome crucial physiological barriers encompassing mucosal surfaces, blood flow dynamics, vascular endothelium, and cellular membrane. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest strategies developed to address these obstacles while also analyzing the broader challenges and opportunities associated with clinical translation. Our objective is to establish a solid foundation for future research in medical MNMs by focusing on enhancing drug delivery efficiency and advancing precision medicine, ultimately paving the way for practical theragnostic applications and wider clinical adoption.