Biomedical Micro/Nanorobots: Design, Fabrication and Applications

A special issue of Micromachines (ISSN 2072-666X). This special issue belongs to the section "B5: Drug Delivery System".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 September 2026 | Viewed by 412

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
Interests: micro/nanorobots; nanomedicine; intelligent control

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
2. School of Medicine and Healthcare, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
Interests: micro/nanorobots; nanomedicine; intelligent control
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The minimization of intelligent devices into the micro- and nanoscale carries with it considerable expectations due to significant potential in various fields ranging from biomedicine to precise analysis. One such case is that of swimming micro-/nanorobots, which allow for actuation in various aqueous media such as water and blood. This has garnered significant attention for its potential to transport therapeutic agents into hard-to-reach areas in the body for the targeted therapy of diseased areas. Here, as fanciful as the idea sounds, people are now equipped with the diverse nanotechnology required to realize the microrobot stories of science fiction, with new possibilities having emerged for the design of these tiny robots. With this, we look forward to your contributions to this Special Issue.

Dr. Chuang Zhang
Prof. Dr. Zhiguang Wu
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • micro/nanoparticle
  • micro/nanomotor
  • micro/nanorobots
  • intelligent control
  • biomedicine
  • energy conversion
  • environmental applications

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

32 pages, 6220 KB  
Review
The Application of Micro/Nanorobots in Cancer Therapy
by Yinglei Zhang, Bo Yang and Xiang Zou
Micromachines 2026, 17(5), 612; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi17050612 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2026
Viewed by 80
Abstract
Cancer continues to present a profound challenge due to high mortality and the inherent limitations of conventional treatments, including suboptimal targeting, systemic toxicity, and difficulty in overcoming physiological barriers. Micro/nanorobots (MNRs) offer a promising enhanced precision and efficacy in cancer therapy. This review [...] Read more.
Cancer continues to present a profound challenge due to high mortality and the inherent limitations of conventional treatments, including suboptimal targeting, systemic toxicity, and difficulty in overcoming physiological barriers. Micro/nanorobots (MNRs) offer a promising enhanced precision and efficacy in cancer therapy. This review systematically analyzes recent advancements in MNR applications, establishing a consistent framework that interlinks their diverse material compositions, propulsion strategies, and therapeutic functions. We critically compare various materials (inorganic, organic/polymeric, and biological/hybrid materials), elucidating their respective trade-offs in biocompatibility, biodegradability, and stimulus responsiveness. This paper further examines both internal (chemical and biological) and external (magnetic, light, and ultrasound) propulsion mechanisms, highlighting their strengths in overcoming biological barriers and enabling complex in vivo navigation, while also discussing their inherent limitations in control, fuel dependency, and tissue penetration. We then synthesize the therapeutic capabilities of MNRs across targeted drug delivery, phototherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, emphasizing common advantages like enhanced tumor specificity and reduced systemic side effects. A forward-looking perspective was also provided on the remaining challenges, particularly focusing on in vivo controllability, long-term biosafety, manufacturing scalability, and the significant hurdles in clinical translation. By offering a more critical and integrated analysis, this review underscores the immense potential of MNRs to revolutionize personalized precision cancer treatment, while candidly addressing the complex obstacles that must be surmounted for their successful clinical adoption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Micro/Nanorobots: Design, Fabrication and Applications)
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