Nanorobotics in biomedical sciences (literature review)

Nanomedicine is a scientific field resulting from the combination of nanotechnology and medicine, utilizing the high accuracy and wide adaptability of functional nanoscale devices called nanorobots or nanobots. Nanobots are emerging as key players in novel medical applications and, in conjunction with the rapidly evolving Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, may significantly improve the treatment and diagnostic outcomes in the context of precision medicine. Nanorobotics, as a subfield of nanomedicine, involves the design, creation, and deployment of autonomous or semi-autonomous nanoscale devices capable of performing specific medical tasks at the molecular or cellular level. The integration of AI further enhances the capabilities of nanobots by enabling them to adapt to dynamic biological environments, learn from interactions, and optimize treatment strategies. Their precision and ability to operate at the cellular or subcellular scale are particularly advantageous in targeting diseases at their source, such as cancer or genetic disorders, without causing damage to surrounding intact tissues. Herein, this short review article aims to present an overview of the most conventional nanobot-based therapeutics and diagnostics that have been widely explored so far. Furthermore, we emphasize on the challenges this technology faces in clinical application, detailing issues in safety assessment, diverse biological effects, and regulatory restrictions. Finally, we provide our perspective on the future directions of nanomedicine.

Contribution:
Nikolopoulou D.I. – writing text, the concept and design of the study, editing;
Karampatzakis T. – writing text, the design of the study, editing;
Kouretas D. – writing text, editing;
Fedorov D.S. – writing text, editing;
Tsintarakis A. – writing text, editing;
Kirithras E. – editing;
Taghizadehghalehjoughi A. – editing;
Rakitsky V.N. – editing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: April 15, 2025 / Accepted: June 26, 2025 / Published: October 20, 2025

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