Nanorobots

Nanorobots, or nanorobotics, are devices engineered at nanometer scales to perform tasks in controlled ways. The term covers synthetic nanoscale machines, DNA-based structures, and hybrid systems that combine biological and inorganic components. Nanorobots are envisioned to operate autonomously or under external control in fluids, tissues, or industrial environments.

Construction and actuation rely on nanoscale components that convert energy into motion and perform tasks such as cargo transport or sensing. Actuation methods include magnetic fields, chemical reactions, light, ultrasound, and thermal gradients. Some designs use molecular motors or DNA origami to enable movement; others rely on external fields for steering.

Applications span targeted drug delivery, where nanoscale carriers release therapeutics at specific sites; diagnostics and minimally invasive surgery; and environmental sensing or remediation. In industry, nanorobots could assist in material assembly or hazardous environment inspection. Realization remains limited mainly to laboratory demonstrations and preclinical studies.

Challenges include reliable fabrication at scale, biocompatibility, immune response, control and communication in complex environments, safety and regulatory oversight, and ethical considerations about deployment in living systems.

History and outlook: The idea of microscopic machines drew from Feynman’s 1959 lectures and later Drexler’s discussions of molecular manufacturing. Modern work emphasizes biohybrid and DNA-based approaches, with progress typically reported in controlled experiments and early clinical contexts, while broad clinical use remains speculative.