Chemical tunability of advanced materials used in the fabrication of micro/nanobots

Abstract

Micro and nanobots (MNBs) are unprecedented in their ability to be chemically tuned for autonomous tasks with enhanced targeting and functionality while maintaining their mobility. A myriad of chemical modifications involving a large variety of advanced materials have been demonstrated to be effective in the design of MNBs. Furthermore, they can be controlled for their autonomous motion, and their ability to carry chemical or biological payloads. In addition, MNBs can be modified to achieve targetability with specificity for biological implications. MNBs by virtue of their chemical compositions may be limited by their biocompatibility, tissue accumulation, poor biodegradability and toxicity. This review presents a note on artificial intelligence materials (AIMs), their importance, and the dimensional scales at which intrinsic autonomy can be achieved for diverse utility. We briefly discuss the evolution of such systems with a focus on their advancements in nanomedicine. We highlight MNBs covering their contemporary traits and the emergence of a few start-ups in specific areas. Furthermore, we showcase various examples, demonstrating that chemical tunability is an attractive primary approach for designing MNBs with immense capabilities both in biology and chemistry. Finally, we cover biosafety and ethical considerations in designing MNBs in the era of artificial intelligence for varied applications.