Micro/Nanorobots in Nanobiotechnology

Book excerpt: Micro/nanorobots have emerged as functional agents and versatile tools for investigating the complex microenvironments within biological systems. Operating at a scale comparable to cells, these micro/nanorobots offer controllable motion and customizable characteristics, whilst swarming micro/nanorobots exhibit exceptional efficiency, robustness, and adaptivity. As a result, these active particles hold significant potential for interacting with living cells, diseased tissues, and organs, offering viable approaches to uncovering natural principles of development and addressing diseases such as drug-tolerant infections and bacterial self-organization. To tackle these challenges, functionalized micro/nanorobots, through active intervention, can yield substantial effects on the development and treatment of cellular environments, bacterial biofilms, and tissue restoration. In this regard, we are organizing a special issue to delineate the current state of the art of micro/nanorobots in biological contexts and to advance therapeutics by elucidating the underlying mechanisms in living systems. In the contemporary era of advancing nanomedicine, the utilization of micro/nanorobots in clinical therapy is still in its nascent stages within the realm of modern healthcare. Biomedical and biological environments hold immense promise as platforms for these active agents, showcasing remarkable functionalities and efficacy in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. Micro/nanorobots have the capacity to emulate the behaviors of living cells, particularly bacteria, which play a crucial role in microbial infections, thus impacting public health and medical devices. These active agents possess the potential to overcome biological barriers and enable targeted therapies for various healthcare issues, including the prevention and treatment of diseased tissues and biofilms, which will significantly enhance the minimally invasive operations and remote treatments for the next-generation human healthcare system. The objectives of this research topic are threefold: (1) to investigate the novel functionalities of micro/nanorobots in biological contexts, (2) to unravel the underlying principles of cell, tissue, and organ development, and (3) to innovate active therapeutic approaches for addressing diseased tissues and microbial biofilms