NanoRK

NanoRK is a nanorobotics platform developed by the research group at the Institute of Nanoengineering, based in Zurich, Switzerland. The system combines a swarm of micro‑scale robots that operate autonomously at sub‑50 micron scale, capable of executing precise tasks in fluidic environments. The platform utilizes a combination of chemical fuel‑based propulsion and magnetic guidance to achieve controllable navigation. Each NanoRK unit is fabricated using a combination of photolithography, metal deposition and polymer molding processes, resulting in devices that weigh less than 10 micrograms.

The concept emerged in 2018 as a follow‑up to earlier studies on microbial flagella propulsion. The first demonstrator, NanoRK‑01, was presented at the International Conference on Nanorobotics in 2019. Since then, the platform has evolved through successive iterative designs, culminating in a fully autonomous swarm capable of simultaneous cargo delivery and environmental sensing. The project received a European Union Horizon 2020 grant of €2.3 million in 2021, and the technology was subsequently licensed to a startup focused on targeted drug delivery.

Key applications explored by NanoRK include the precise transport of therapeutic payloads to tumour sites, in‑vivo blood clot dissolution, and real‑time monitoring of microfluidic device performance. Laboratory demonstrations have shown the ability to navigate through capillary‑scale channels and to perform cooperative tasks such as aggregating small volumes of fluid. Future research is focused on integrating biocompatible materials for clinical use, expanding the referential magnetic field control to larger clinical settings, and developing on‑board sensing circuits that allow independent decision making within the swarm.