Active Propelled Micro/Nano Technologies in Drug Delivery: 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: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 81

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Urology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
2. Stony Brook Cancer Center, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
Interests: drug delivery; nano/micro-robots; peptide-based nanoparticles
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Active propelled micro/nano technologies are poised to revolutionize drug delivery by enabling the precise, on-demand delivery of therapeutics to targeted sites within the body. This innovative approach offers a promising solution to the limitations of conventional drug administration, which often suffers from poor bioavailability, off-target effects, and the inability to overcome physiological barriers. These micro/nanorobots can be designed to autonomously navigate complex biological environments, reaching specific cells or tissues to release their therapeutic payload with high spatiotemporal precision. This not only increases treatment efficacy but also significantly reduces the systemic side effects that are common in many therapies.

Despite their immense promise, the widespread clinical application of these technologies faces challenges related to biocompatibility, remote control, and scalability. This Special Issue aims to address the current state of the art and explore emerging opportunities for the development and application of advanced, self-propelled drug delivery systems. We invite submissions that cover a broad spectrum of topics, from novel design principles and fabrication techniques to their diverse biomedical applications and the investigation of their in vivo performance.

We look forward to receiving your contributions and insights to advance this exciting and rapidly evolving field.

Dr. Zhaoqing Cong
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • nano/microrobots
  • self-propelled
  • active propulsion
  • drug delivery
  • nanomedicine

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

26 pages, 88895 KB  
Review
Active Propelled Micro Robots in Drug Delivery for Urologic Diseases
by Chunlian Zhong, Menghuan Tang and Zhaoqing Cong
Micromachines 2026, 17(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi17010024 (registering DOI) - 25 Dec 2025
Abstract
Active propelled micro robots (MRs) represent a transformative shift in biomedical engineering, engineered to navigate physiological environments by converting chemical, acoustic, or magnetic energy into mechanical propulsion. Unlike passive delivery systems limited by diffusion and systemic clearance, MRs offer autonomous mobility, enabling precise [...] Read more.
Active propelled micro robots (MRs) represent a transformative shift in biomedical engineering, engineered to navigate physiological environments by converting chemical, acoustic, or magnetic energy into mechanical propulsion. Unlike passive delivery systems limited by diffusion and systemic clearance, MRs offer autonomous mobility, enabling precise penetration and retention in hard-to-reach tissues. This review provides comprehensive analysis of MR technologies within urology, a field uniquely suited for microrobotic intervention due to the urinary tract’s anatomical accessibility and fluid-filled nature. We explore how MRs address critical therapeutic limitations, including the high recurrence of kidney stones and the rapid washout of intravesical bladder cancer therapies. The review categorizes propulsion mechanisms optimized for the urinary environment, such as urea-fueled nanomotors and magnetic swarms. Furthermore, we detail emerging applications, including bioresorbable acoustic robots for tumor ablation and magnetic grippers for minimally invasive biopsies. Finally, we critically assess the path toward clinical translation, focusing on challenges in biocompatibility, real-time tracking (MRI, MPI, photoacoustic imaging), and the regulatory landscape for these advanced combination products. Full article
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