micronanorobots

Micronanorobots refer to robotic devices designed to operate at the micro- to nano-scale, typically ranging from several tens of nanometers to several micrometers in size. They are built from nanoscale materials and often incorporate microscale components to enable sensing, actuation, and manipulation within confined environments such as bodily fluids or microfluidic channels. The field sits at the intersection of microrobotics, nanotechnology, and biomedical engineering, and emphasizes the use of external energy sources to power motion and tasks.

Common materials include biocompatible polymers, magnetic nanoparticles, silicon or silicon-based structures, and self-assembled DNA or protein components. Actuation methods vary: magnetic fields can drive helical propellers or steer swarms; acoustic and optical methods provide propulsion or switching; chemical or enzymatic engines exploit reactions at the surface. Fabrication uses top-down lithography, bottom-up self-assembly, electrochemical methods, or templating, often combined to create composite devices with integrated sensors and actuators.

Control and sensing are typically achieved with external fields guiding movement and behavior, sometimes supplemented by onboard chemical or optical reporters. Many research efforts focus on swarms of micronanorobots that perform coordinated tasks, such as targeted cargo delivery, local drug release, minimally invasive manipulation of cells or tissues, or environmental monitoring in microfluidic systems.

Current status remains predominantly experimental and preclinical. Demonstrations have shown propulsion and navigation in laboratory fluids, cargo loading and release, and basic intracellular or in vivo targeting in animal models in a few cases. Major challenges include reliable propulsion in viscous biological media, precise control at small scales, energy management, biocompatibility, immune response, and safe, scalable manufacturing. As a field, micronanorobotics continues to explore hybrid chemotactic or magnetically guided strategies, with ongoing work toward clinical translation, regulatory frameworks, and ethical considerations.