Active nanomotors surpass passive nanomedicines: current progress and challenges

Shuqin Chen; Yuduo Chen; Mingming Fu; Qinghua Cao; Bo Wang; Wenjun Chen; Xing Ma

doi:10.1039/d2tb00556e

Active nanomotors surpass passive nanomedicines: current progress and challenges

J Mater Chem B. 2022 Sep 28;10(37):7099-7107. doi: 10.1039/d2tb00556e.

Authors

Shuqin Chen^{1

2}, Yuduo Chen^{1

2}, Mingming Fu^{1

2}, Qinghua Cao³, Bo Wang³, Wenjun Chen^{1

2}, Xing Ma^{1

2

4}

Affiliations

¹ School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, 518055, China. maxing@hit.edu.cn.
² Sauvage Laboratory for Smart Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, 518055, China. chenwenjun@hit.edu.cn.
³ School of Materials Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai, 201620, China.
⁴ Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, No. 9 Duxue Road, Shenzhen, 518055, China.

PMID: 35543361
DOI: 10.1039/d2tb00556e

Abstract

Artificial nanomotors show advantages over traditional nanomedicines in biomedical applications due to their active locomotion by converting various energy sources into mechanical force in situ. Currently, nanomotors are attracting wide attention in diagnosis and therapy towards clinical applications. In this perspective, we summarize recent developments of nanomotors in biomedical applications, including targeted drug delivery, biological barrier penetration, and diagnostics and cancer treatment. The development of nanomotors in biomedicine still faces considerable challenges and practical difficulties towards clinical use, which are discussed in detail. Finally, we propose potential solutions that may help the development of nanomotors towards advanced diagnostics and therapy.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Drug Delivery Systems
Nanomedicine*
Nanostructures*
Nanotechnology