Technology Roadmap of Micro/Nanorobots

Xiaohui Ju; Chuanrui Chen; Cagatay M. Oral; Semih Sevim; Ramin Golestanian; Mengmeng Sun; Negin Bouzari; Xiankun Lin; Mario Urso; Jong Seok Nam; Yujang Cho; Xia Peng; Fabian C. Landers; Shihao Yang; Azin Adibi; Nahid Taz; Raphael Wittkowski; Daniel Ahmed; Wei Wang; Veronika Magdanz; Mariana Medina-Sánchez; Maria Guix; Naimat Bari; Bahareh Behkam; Raymond Kapral; Yaxin Huang; Jinyao Tang; Ben Wang; Konstantin Morozov; Alexander Leshansky; Sarmad Ahmad Abbasi; Hongsoo Choi; Subhadip Ghosh; Bárbara Borges Fernandes; Giuseppe Battaglia; Peer Fischer; Ambarish Ghosh; Beatriz Jurado Sánchez; Alberto Escarpa; Quentin Martinet; Jérémie Palacci; Eric Lauga; Jeffrey Moran; Miguel A. Ramos-Docampo; Brigitte Städler; Ramón Santiago Herrera Restrepo; Gilad Yossifon; James D. Nicholas; Jordi Ignés-Mullol; Josep Puigmartí-Luis; Yutong Liu; Lauren D. Zarzar; C. Wyatt Shields; Longqiu Li; Shanshan Li; Xing Ma; David H. Gracias; Orlin Velev; Samuel Sánchez; Maria Jose Esplandiu; Juliane Simmchen; Antonio Lobosco; Sarthak Misra; Zhiguang Wu; Jinxing Li; Alexander Kuhn; Amir Nourhani; Tijana Maric; Ze Xiong; Amirreza Aghakhani; Yongfeng Mei; Yingfeng Tu; Fei Peng; Eric Diller; Mahmut Selman Sakar; Ayusman Sen; Junhui Law; Yu Sun; Abdon Pena-Francesch; Katherine Villa; Huaizhi Li; Donglei Emma Fan; Kang Liang; Tony Jun Huang; Xiang Zhong Chen; Songsong Tang; Xueji Zhang; Jizhai Cui; Hong Wang; Wei Gao; Vineeth Kumar Bandari; Oliver G. Schmidt; Xianghua Wu; Jianguo Guan; Metin Sitti; Bradley J. Nelson; Salvador Pané; Li Zhang; Hamed Shahsavan; Qiang He; Il Doo Kim; Joseph Wang; Martin Pumera

doi:10.1021/acsnano.5c03911

Technology Roadmap of Micro/Nanorobots

Xiaohui Ju
, Chuanrui Chen
, Cagatay M. Oral
, Semih Sevim
, Ramin Golestanian
, Mengmeng Sun
, Negin Bouzari
, Xiankun Lin
, Mario Urso
, Jong Seok Nam
, Yujang Cho
, Xia Peng
, Fabian C. Landers
, Shihao Yang
, Azin Adibi
, Nahid Taz
, Raphael Wittkowski
, Daniel Ahmed
, Wei Wang
, Veronika Magdanz

Mariana Medina-Sánchez, Maria Guix, Naimat Bari, Bahareh Behkam, Raymond Kapral, Yaxin Huang, Jinyao Tang, Ben Wang, Konstantin Morozov, Alexander Leshansky, Sarmad Ahmad Abbasi, Hongsoo Choi, Subhadip Ghosh, Bárbara Borges Fernandes, Giuseppe Battaglia, Peer Fischer, Ambarish Ghosh, Beatriz Jurado Sánchez, Alberto Escarpa, Quentin Martinet, Jérémie Palacci, Eric Lauga, Jeffrey Moran, Miguel A. Ramos-Docampo, Brigitte Städler, Ramón Santiago Herrera Restrepo, Gilad Yossifon, James D. Nicholas, Jordi Ignés-Mullol, Josep Puigmartí-Luis, Yutong Liu, Lauren D. Zarzar, C. Wyatt Shields, Longqiu Li, Shanshan Li, Xing Ma, David H. Gracias, Orlin Velev, Samuel Sánchez, Maria Jose Esplandiu, Juliane Simmchen, Antonio Lobosco, Sarthak Misra, Zhiguang Wu, Jinxing Li, Alexander Kuhn, Amir Nourhani, Tijana Maric, Ze Xiong, Amirreza Aghakhani, Yongfeng Mei, Yingfeng Tu, Fei Peng, Eric Diller, Mahmut Selman Sakar, Ayusman Sen, Junhui Law, Yu Sun, Abdon Pena-Francesch, Katherine Villa, Huaizhi Li, Donglei Emma Fan, Kang Liang, Tony Jun Huang, Xiang Zhong Chen, Songsong Tang, Xueji Zhang, Jizhai Cui, Hong Wang, Wei Gao, Vineeth Kumar Bandari, Oliver G. Schmidt, Xianghua Wu, Jianguo Guan, Metin Sitti, Bradley J. Nelson, Salvador Pané^*, Li Zhang^*, Hamed Shahsavan^*, Qiang He^*, Il Doo Kim^*, Joseph Wang^*, Martin Pumera^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Inspired by Richard Feynman’s 1959 lecture and the 1966 film Fantastic Voyage, the field of micro/nanorobots has evolved from science fiction to reality, with significant advancements in biomedical and environmental applications. Despite the rapid progress, the deployment of functional micro/nanorobots remains limited. This review of the technology roadmap identifies key challenges hindering their widespread use, focusing on propulsion mechanisms, fundamental theoretical aspects, collective behavior, material design, and embodied intelligence. We explore the current state of micro/nanorobot technology, with an emphasis on applications in biomedicine, environmental remediation, analytical sensing, and other industrial technological aspects. Additionally, we analyze issues related to scaling up production, commercialization, and regulatory frameworks that are crucial for transitioning from research to practical applications. We also emphasize the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to address both technical and nontechnical challenges, such as sustainability, ethics, and business considerations. Finally, we propose a roadmap for future research to accelerate the development of micro/nanorobots, positioning them as essential tools for addressing grand challenges and enhancing the quality of life.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	24174-24334
Number of pages	161
Journal	ACS Nano
Volume	19
Issue number	27
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.5c03911
Publication status	Published - 15 Jul 2025
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

collective behavior
functionality
intelligence
micro/nanorobots
nanotechnology
propulsion
smart materials
technological translation

Access to Document

10.1021/acsnano.5c03911

Cite this

@article{229cc0260ec341ce99b214f3e75079c2,

title = "Technology Roadmap of Micro/Nanorobots",

abstract = "Inspired by Richard Feynman{\textquoteright}s 1959 lecture and the 1966 film Fantastic Voyage, the field of micro/nanorobots has evolved from science fiction to reality, with significant advancements in biomedical and environmental applications. Despite the rapid progress, the deployment of functional micro/nanorobots remains limited. This review of the technology roadmap identifies key challenges hindering their widespread use, focusing on propulsion mechanisms, fundamental theoretical aspects, collective behavior, material design, and embodied intelligence. We explore the current state of micro/nanorobot technology, with an emphasis on applications in biomedicine, environmental remediation, analytical sensing, and other industrial technological aspects. Additionally, we analyze issues related to scaling up production, commercialization, and regulatory frameworks that are crucial for transitioning from research to practical applications. We also emphasize the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to address both technical and nontechnical challenges, such as sustainability, ethics, and business considerations. Finally, we propose a roadmap for future research to accelerate the development of micro/nanorobots, positioning them as essential tools for addressing grand challenges and enhancing the quality of life.",

keywords = "collective behavior, functionality, intelligence, micro/nanorobots, nanotechnology, propulsion, smart materials, technological translation",

author = "Xiaohui Ju and Chuanrui Chen and Oral, \{Cagatay M.\} and Semih Sevim and Ramin Golestanian and Mengmeng Sun and Negin Bouzari and Xiankun Lin and Mario Urso and Nam, \{Jong Seok\} and Yujang Cho and Xia Peng and Landers, \{Fabian C.\} and Shihao Yang and Azin Adibi and Nahid Taz and Raphael Wittkowski and Daniel Ahmed and Wei Wang and Veronika Magdanz and Mariana Medina-S{\'a}nchez and Maria Guix and Naimat Bari and Bahareh Behkam and Raymond Kapral and Yaxin Huang and Jinyao Tang and Ben Wang and Konstantin Morozov and Alexander Leshansky and Abbasi, \{Sarmad Ahmad\} and Hongsoo Choi and Subhadip Ghosh and \{Borges Fernandes\}, B{\'a}rbara and Giuseppe Battaglia and Peer Fischer and Ambarish Ghosh and \{Jurado S{\'a}nchez\}, Beatriz and Alberto Escarpa and Quentin Martinet and J{\'e}r{\'e}mie Palacci and Eric Lauga and Jeffrey Moran and Ramos-Docampo, \{Miguel A.\} and Brigitte St{\"a}dler and \{Herrera Restrepo\}, \{Ram{\'o}n Santiago\} and Gilad Yossifon and Nicholas, \{James D.\} and Jordi Ign{\'e}s-Mullol and Josep Puigmart{\'i}-Luis and Yutong Liu and Zarzar, \{Lauren D.\} and Shields, \{C. Wyatt\} and Longqiu Li and Shanshan Li and Xing Ma and Gracias, \{David H.\} and Orlin Velev and Samuel S{\'a}nchez and Esplandiu, \{Maria Jose\} and Juliane Simmchen and Antonio Lobosco and Sarthak Misra and Zhiguang Wu and Jinxing Li and Alexander Kuhn and Amir Nourhani and Tijana Maric and Ze Xiong and Amirreza Aghakhani and Yongfeng Mei and Yingfeng Tu and Fei Peng and Eric Diller and Sakar, \{Mahmut Selman\} and Ayusman Sen and Junhui Law and Yu Sun and Abdon Pena-Francesch and Katherine Villa and Huaizhi Li and Fan, \{Donglei Emma\} and Kang Liang and Huang, \{Tony Jun\} and Chen, \{Xiang Zhong\} and Songsong Tang and Xueji Zhang and Jizhai Cui and Hong Wang and Wei Gao and \{Kumar Bandari\}, Vineeth and Schmidt, \{Oliver G.\} and Xianghua Wu and Jianguo Guan and Metin Sitti and Nelson, \{Bradley J.\} and Salvador Pan{\'e} and Li Zhang and Hamed Shahsavan and Qiang He and Kim, \{Il Doo\} and Joseph Wang and Martin Pumera",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society",

year = "2025",

month = jul,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1021/acsnano.5c03911",

language = "English",

volume = "19",

pages = "24174--24334",

journal = "ACS Nano",

issn = "1936-0851",

publisher = "American Chemical Society",

number = "27",

}

Ju, X, Chen, C, Oral, CM, Sevim, S, Golestanian, R, Sun, M, Bouzari, N, Lin, X, Urso, M, Nam, JS, Cho, Y, Peng, X, Landers, FC, Yang, S, Adibi, A, Taz, N, Wittkowski, R, Ahmed, D, Wang, W, Magdanz, V, Medina-Sánchez, M, Guix, M, Bari, N, Behkam, B, Kapral, R, Huang, Y, Tang, J, Wang, B, Morozov, K, Leshansky, A, Abbasi, SA, Choi, H, Ghosh, S, Borges Fernandes, B, Battaglia, G, Fischer, P, Ghosh, A, Jurado Sánchez, B, Escarpa, A, Martinet, Q, Palacci, J, Lauga, E, Moran, J, Ramos-Docampo, MA, Städler, B, Herrera Restrepo, RS, Yossifon, G, Nicholas, JD, Ignés-Mullol, J, Puigmartí-Luis, J, Liu, Y, Zarzar, LD, Shields, CW, Li, L, Li, S, Ma, X, Gracias, DH, Velev, O, Sánchez, S, Esplandiu, MJ, Simmchen, J, Lobosco, A, Misra, S, Wu, Z, Li, J, Kuhn, A, Nourhani, A, Maric, T, Xiong, Z, Aghakhani, A, Mei, Y, Tu, Y, Peng, F, Diller, E, Sakar, MS, Sen, A, Law, J, Sun, Y, Pena-Francesch, A, Villa, K, Li, H, Fan, DE, Liang, K, Huang, TJ, Chen, XZ, Tang, S, Zhang, X, Cui, J, Wang, H, Gao, W, Kumar Bandari, V, Schmidt, OG, Wu, X, Guan, J, Sitti, M, Nelson, BJ, Pané, S, Zhang, L, Shahsavan, H, He, Q, Kim, ID, Wang, J & Pumera, M 2025, 'Technology Roadmap of Micro/Nanorobots', ACS Nano, vol. 19, no. 27, pp. 24174-24334. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.5c03911

TY - JOUR

T1 - Technology Roadmap of Micro/Nanorobots

AU - Ju, Xiaohui

AU - Chen, Chuanrui

AU - Oral, Cagatay M.

AU - Sevim, Semih

AU - Golestanian, Ramin

AU - Sun, Mengmeng

AU - Bouzari, Negin

AU - Lin, Xiankun

AU - Urso, Mario

AU - Nam, Jong Seok

AU - Cho, Yujang

AU - Peng, Xia

AU - Landers, Fabian C.

AU - Yang, Shihao

AU - Adibi, Azin

AU - Taz, Nahid

AU - Wittkowski, Raphael

AU - Ahmed, Daniel

AU - Wang, Wei

AU - Magdanz, Veronika

AU - Medina-Sánchez, Mariana

AU - Guix, Maria

AU - Bari, Naimat

AU - Behkam, Bahareh

AU - Kapral, Raymond

AU - Huang, Yaxin

AU - Tang, Jinyao

AU - Wang, Ben

AU - Morozov, Konstantin

AU - Leshansky, Alexander

AU - Abbasi, Sarmad Ahmad

AU - Choi, Hongsoo

AU - Ghosh, Subhadip

AU - Borges Fernandes, Bárbara

AU - Battaglia, Giuseppe

AU - Fischer, Peer

AU - Ghosh, Ambarish

AU - Jurado Sánchez, Beatriz

AU - Escarpa, Alberto

AU - Martinet, Quentin

AU - Palacci, Jérémie

AU - Lauga, Eric

AU - Moran, Jeffrey

AU - Ramos-Docampo, Miguel A.

AU - Städler, Brigitte

AU - Herrera Restrepo, Ramón Santiago

AU - Yossifon, Gilad

AU - Nicholas, James D.

AU - Ignés-Mullol, Jordi

AU - Puigmartí-Luis, Josep

AU - Liu, Yutong

AU - Zarzar, Lauren D.

AU - Shields, C. Wyatt

AU - Li, Longqiu

AU - Li, Shanshan

AU - Ma, Xing

AU - Gracias, David H.

AU - Velev, Orlin

AU - Sánchez, Samuel

AU - Esplandiu, Maria Jose

AU - Simmchen, Juliane

AU - Lobosco, Antonio

AU - Misra, Sarthak

AU - Wu, Zhiguang

AU - Li, Jinxing

AU - Kuhn, Alexander

AU - Nourhani, Amir

AU - Maric, Tijana

AU - Xiong, Ze

AU - Aghakhani, Amirreza

AU - Mei, Yongfeng

AU - Tu, Yingfeng

AU - Peng, Fei

AU - Diller, Eric

AU - Sakar, Mahmut Selman

AU - Sen, Ayusman

AU - Law, Junhui

AU - Sun, Yu

AU - Pena-Francesch, Abdon

AU - Villa, Katherine

AU - Li, Huaizhi

AU - Fan, Donglei Emma

AU - Liang, Kang

AU - Huang, Tony Jun

AU - Chen, Xiang Zhong

AU - Tang, Songsong

AU - Zhang, Xueji

AU - Cui, Jizhai

AU - Wang, Hong

AU - Gao, Wei

AU - Kumar Bandari, Vineeth

AU - Schmidt, Oliver G.

AU - Wu, Xianghua

AU - Guan, Jianguo

AU - Sitti, Metin

AU - Nelson, Bradley J.

AU - Pané, Salvador

AU - Zhang, Li

AU - Shahsavan, Hamed

AU - He, Qiang

AU - Kim, Il Doo

AU - Wang, Joseph

AU - Pumera, Martin

PY - 2025/7/15

Y1 - 2025/7/15

N2 - Inspired by Richard Feynman’s 1959 lecture and the 1966 film Fantastic Voyage, the field of micro/nanorobots has evolved from science fiction to reality, with significant advancements in biomedical and environmental applications. Despite the rapid progress, the deployment of functional micro/nanorobots remains limited. This review of the technology roadmap identifies key challenges hindering their widespread use, focusing on propulsion mechanisms, fundamental theoretical aspects, collective behavior, material design, and embodied intelligence. We explore the current state of micro/nanorobot technology, with an emphasis on applications in biomedicine, environmental remediation, analytical sensing, and other industrial technological aspects. Additionally, we analyze issues related to scaling up production, commercialization, and regulatory frameworks that are crucial for transitioning from research to practical applications. We also emphasize the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to address both technical and nontechnical challenges, such as sustainability, ethics, and business considerations. Finally, we propose a roadmap for future research to accelerate the development of micro/nanorobots, positioning them as essential tools for addressing grand challenges and enhancing the quality of life.

AB - Inspired by Richard Feynman’s 1959 lecture and the 1966 film Fantastic Voyage, the field of micro/nanorobots has evolved from science fiction to reality, with significant advancements in biomedical and environmental applications. Despite the rapid progress, the deployment of functional micro/nanorobots remains limited. This review of the technology roadmap identifies key challenges hindering their widespread use, focusing on propulsion mechanisms, fundamental theoretical aspects, collective behavior, material design, and embodied intelligence. We explore the current state of micro/nanorobot technology, with an emphasis on applications in biomedicine, environmental remediation, analytical sensing, and other industrial technological aspects. Additionally, we analyze issues related to scaling up production, commercialization, and regulatory frameworks that are crucial for transitioning from research to practical applications. We also emphasize the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to address both technical and nontechnical challenges, such as sustainability, ethics, and business considerations. Finally, we propose a roadmap for future research to accelerate the development of micro/nanorobots, positioning them as essential tools for addressing grand challenges and enhancing the quality of life.

KW - collective behavior

KW - functionality

KW - intelligence

KW - micro/nanorobots

KW - nanotechnology

KW - propulsion

KW - smart materials

KW - technological translation

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105009484326

U2 - 10.1021/acsnano.5c03911

DO - 10.1021/acsnano.5c03911

M3 - Review article

C2 - 40577644

AN - SCOPUS:105009484326

SN - 1936-0851

VL - 19

SP - 24174

EP - 24334

JO - ACS Nano

JF - ACS Nano

IS - 27

ER -

Technology Roadmap of Micro/Nanorobots

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