AUTHOR=Sui Ziqi , Wan Chugen , Cheng Hefei , Yang Bin TITLE=Micro/nanorobots for gastrointestinal tract JOURNAL=Frontiers in Chemistry VOLUME=12 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/chemistry/articles/10.3389/fchem.2024.1423696 DOI=10.3389/fchem.2024.1423696 ISSN=2296-2646 ABSTRACT=

The application of micro/nanomotors (MNMs) in the gastrointestinal tract has become a Frontier in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. These miniature robots can enter the gastrointestinal tract through oral administration, achieving precise drug delivery and therapy. They can traverse mucosal layers and tissue barriers, directly targeting tumors or other lesion sites, thereby enhancing the bioavailability and therapeutic effects of drugs. Through the application of nanotechnology, these MNMs are able to accomplish targeted medication release, regulating drug release in response to either external stimuli or the local biological milieu. This results in reduced side effects and increased therapeutic efficacy. This review summarizes the primary classifications and power sources of current MNMs, as well as their applications in the gastrointestinal tract, providing inspiration and direction for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases with MNMs.