Nanomotors, multimetallic systems are biologically inspired self-propelled tiny engines able to perform difficult tasks of transporting cargos from one end to another in presence of hydrogen peroxide fuel. Nanomotors can revolutionize the drug delivery system at the desired target by converting chemical energy into mechanical energy. Nanomotors exhibit unique properties like moving at higher speed, self-propulsion and drilling into the complex cellular environment. The review focuses on fuel dependent and fuel-free nanomotors with their propulsion mechanism. Further, the review highlights the method of fabrication, biohybrid nanomotors, toxicities along with their application in the field of active drug delivery, diabetes, precise surgery, ischemic stroke therapy, diagnosis and treatment of coronavirus, microwave hyperthermia, zika virus detection, anti-bacterial activity, water treatment and sensing and challenges lying at the forefront in the development of these tiny nanomachines. Hydrogen peroxide is toxic to mankind; biohybrid motors give an extra edge of eliminating hydrogen peroxide as fuel for self-propulsion, this can be used for smart drug delivery by reducing toxicities as compared to artificial nanomotors. Cost-effective fabrication of nanomotors will extend their applications in commercial sector overcoming limitations like scale-up and regulatory approval. In near future, nanomotors will diversify in fields of restoring conductivity of electronic medical devices, 3D printing and theranostics.
Keywords: Brownian motion; NM; Self-propelled; Template-assisted.
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