First launched in 2004, nanomotors have steadily superior from a scientific curiosity to a sensible expertise with wide-ranging functions. This text explores the important thing developments, current improvements, and main makes use of of nanomotors immediately.
A Temporary Overview of Nanomotors
Nanomotors are nanoscale units that may effectively convert totally different types of vitality into mechanical motion, permitting them to self-propel by means of liquids. Their means to maneuver autonomously and launch substances in a liquid surroundings makes them particularly invaluable in biomedicine, environmental remediation, sensing applied sciences, and manufacturing.1
Nanomotors are primarily pushed by bubble propulsion, self-electrophoresis, and self-diffusiophoresis. Scientists have made vital advances within the final twenty years, overcoming fabrication challenges on the nanoscale and refining movement mechanisms. At present, researchers can design nanomotors with exact shapes, sizes, and purposeful parts, significantly enhancing their effectivity and flexibility.2
Advances in Multimodal Propulsion
Early nanomotors relied on single-mode propulsion programs, which restricted their adaptability and effectivity. Multimodal propulsion programs are an answer and have led to improved efficiency in nanomotors, notably in demanding situations.
Three main multimodal programs have emerged in recent times: hybrid exterior field-powered propulsion, propulsion programs combining exterior fields with chemical fuels, and bio-hybrid propulsion.
Stimuli-responsive supplies, together with metals like Silver, Gold, and Platinum, have been central to those advances.
The distinctive digital and catalytic functions of semiconductors like silicon, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, and molybdenum sulfide have additionally seen a rise of their use for creating multimodal propulsion programs for nanomotors in recent times. Moreover, stimuli-responsive polymeric supplies have been key for these programs, making them helpful for prognostic therapeutic functions.3
Mild-Pushed Nanomotors with Unbelievable Speeds
Ever standard, self-propelled autonomous nanomotors have grow to be much more fascinating in recent times. Consultants have been attempting to develop nanomotors with ultra-fast speeds, permitting them to carry out higher for biomedical functions, notably for focused drug supply.
In a single examine, consultants have developed a gold-functionalized nanomotor with unmatched speeds utilizing the photo-thermal properties of gold particles. The outer floor of a stomatocyte nanomotor was lined with a layer of 5 nm gold nanoparticles.
These gold stomatocytes have been uncovered to a 660 nm laser to research their autonomous movement experimentally. The outcomes confirmed their direct autonomous movement in the other way to the laser. This was particularly revealing compared to the management teams, the place no movement was seen. Solely the Au-stomatocyte-based light-driven nanomotors demonstrated directional autonomous movement with distinctive velocities.
The consultants manipulated the speed by controlling the laser energy, with simply 1.5 W permitting the nanomotor to attain an unbelievable velocity of 124.7 ± 6.6 μms-1. The nanomotors’ superior motility permits them to effectively ship focused drugs throughout the cell membrane with a superb biocompatibility and cell viability rating of 90 %.4
Such light-propelled, biodegradable nanomotors are extremely environment friendly, function at ultra-fast velocities, and have a really excessive cell viability rating.
Novel Shockwave-Pushed Nanomotor for Treating Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a continual illness marked by declining bone density. It might depart victims weak to fractures, breakages, and different bone-related problems. Lately, microneedle therapies have emerged as a promising remedy choice as they provide minimally invasive however extremely focused transdermal drug supply.
Among the many mechanisms used to reinforce microneedle penetration, the extracorporeal shockwave method, which is predicated on high-energy pulses, has proven explicit potential. It permits medication to achieve deeper into bone and tissue, whereas minimizing warmth loss. This mix makes it a robust instrument for enhancing the effectiveness of therapies.
In a current examine, consultants developed a novel extracorporeal shockwave-actuated nanomotor sealed into microneedles to guard sufferers from osteoporosis-based harm. They used extremely biocompatible calcium phosphate nanoparticles within the nanomotor and zoledronic nanoparticles because the spine of the microneedles, key for focused drug supply to the bones.
To check the penetration means, the zoledronic nanomotor actuated by extracorporeal shockwaves was utilized in in vivo research for half-hour. Beneath extracorporeal shockwaves, the zoledronic nanoparticle microneedles reached a penetration depth of 1221.63 ± 98.80 µm, with a median depth of solely 687.53 ± 181.27 µm.
The researchers additionally examined totally different concentrations of the nanomotors on bone marrow macrophages (BMM) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) for cytotoxicity. After 48 hours of interplay with BMMs and BMSCs, no cytotoxicity results have been noticed, confirming their superior biocompatibility.
To substantiate the native therapeutic results, the impact of remedy of the nanomotor microneedle was examined on the left femur of an OVX rat mannequin after six weeks of surgical procedure. The scientists used a micro-CT reconstruction method for the evaluation, which revealed that the left femur handled with nanomotor-microneedle displayed a substantial enhance in bone quantity, in comparison with different conventional systemic intravenous administration therapies.
There was an enchancment of about 15-20 % in bone quantity per tissue quantity and trabecular thickness. These findings trace on the microneedle’s potential in stopping and treating osteoporotic fractures.5
Tremendous-Assembled NMs for Elimination of Lead from Human Blood
Lead poisoning stays a critical public well being concern, with conventional therapies counting on hemoperfusion. Researchers have now developed nanomotor-based absorbents that supply a extra environment friendly option to take away lead ions from the bloodstream.
Utilizing a sequential super-assembly method, scientists created nanomotors constructed from halloysite nanotubes embedded with gold nanoparticles. The surfaces have been modified with polydopamine and DMSA to enhance lead-binding properties. When activated by near-infrared gentle, the gold particles generated warmth, propelling the nanomotors by means of self-thermophoresis and boosting their absorption capability.
Exams in organic environments confirmed that these nanomotors eliminated lead ions 1.8x sooner than passive supplies, with an total capability of 151.769 mg/g. The method adopted predictable adsorption kinetics, suggesting robust reliability.6
The profitable testing of this extremely environment friendly nanomotor-based absorbent reveals the potential of such autonomous heavy steel absorbents.
Challenges and Future Instructions
Nanomotors have progressed considerably within the current decade; nevertheless, sure challenges nonetheless must be overcome. Analysis research should concentrate on enhancing the monitoring strategies of nanomotors. This includes rising the decision and monitoring accuracy by creating extremely environment friendly strategies. Present imaging and monitoring strategies want vital enchancment to seize the total dynamics of nanomotor motion and floor interactions.
Controllability in complicated environments is one other situation. Producing adequate pressure and torque for motion by means of dense organic fluids stays troublesome. Researchers are exploring superior co-polymers and novel fabrication strategies to beat this limitation.
Moreover, swarm-based nanomotor operation has lately grow to be a spotlight of analysis. Coordinating a number of nanomotors to type the meant perform effectively and monitoring and regulating the consequences of exterior components is difficult. Consultants are performing ground-breaking analysis on this area, designing nanomotor-based swarms performing hierarchical features.7
Nanomotors have come a good distance in simply twenty years, evolving from experimental units into sensible applied sciences with real-world functions. As advances in supplies, propulsion programs, and monitoring instruments proceed, their potential is just set to develop.
Additional Studying
- Liu, X. et. al. (2022). Intrinsic properties enabled steel natural framework micromotors for extremely environment friendly self-propulsion and enhanced antibacterial remedy. ACS Nano. 16(9). 14666-14678. Obtainable at: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.2c05295
- Wang, L. et. al. (2022). Synthetic nanomotors: Fabrication, locomotion characterization, movement manipulation, and biomedical functions. Interdisciplinary Supplies. 1(2). 256-280. Obtainable at: https://doi.org/10.1002/idm2.12021
- Wu, C. et. al. (2025). Micro/nanomotors from single modal to multimodal propulsion. Nano Analysis. Sci Open. 18(7). 94907105. Obtainable at: https://doi.org/10.26599/NR.2025.94907105
- Wang, J. et al. (2024). Ultrafast light-activated polymeric nanomotors. Nature Commu. 15. 4878. Obtainable at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-49217-w
- Hu, F. et. al. (2024). A novel shockwave-driven nanomotor composite microneedle transdermal supply system for the localized remedy of osteoporosis: a fundamental science examine. Worldwide Journal of Surgical procedure. 110(10). 6243-6256. Obtainable at: https://www.doi.org/10.1097/JS9.0000000000001280
- Cai, Y. et. al. (2025). Sequential super-assembled nanomotor adsorbents for NIR light-Powered blood lead elimination. Separation and Purification Know-how. 356. 129837. Obtainable at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2024.129837
- Chen, S. et. al. (2025). A roadmap for next-generation nanomotors. Nature Nanotechnology. 1-11. Obtainable at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-025-01962-9
