Multifunctional Metal-Organic Framework Exoskeletons Protect Biohybrid Sperm Microrobots for Active Drug Delivery from the Surrounding Threats

Rise of Metal-Organic Frameworks: From Synthesis to E-Skin and Artificial Intelligence

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attained broad research attention in the areas of sensors, resistive memories, and optoelectronic synapses on the merits of their intriguing physical and chemical properties. In this review, recent progress on the synthesis of MOFs and their electronic applications is introduced and discussed. Initially, the crystal structures and properties of MOFs encompassing optical, electrical, and chemical properties are discussed in brief. Subsequently, advanced synthesis methods for MOFs are introduced, categorized into hydrothermal approach, microwave synthesis, mechanochemical synthesis, and electrochemical deposition. After that, the various roles of MOFs in widespread applications, including sensing, information storage, optoelectronic synapses, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, are discussed, highlighting their versatility and the innovative solutions they provide to long-standing challenges. Finally, an outlook on remaining challenges and a future perspective for MOFs are proposed.

Intelligent micro/nanorobots based on biotemplates

Intelligent micro/nanorobots based on natural materials as biotemplates are considered to be some of the most promising robots in the future in the microscopic field. Due to the advantages of biotemplates such as unique structure, abundant resources, environmental friendliness, easy removal, low price, easy access, and renewability, intelligent micro/nanorobots based on biotemplates can be endowed with both excellent biomaterial activity and unique structural morphology through biotemplates themselves and specific functions through artificial micro/nanotechnology. Thus, intelligent micro/nanorobots show excellent application potential in various fields from biomedical applications to environmental remediation. In this review, we introduce the advantages of using natural biological materials as biotemplates to build intelligent micro/nanorobots, and then, classify the micro/nanorobots according to different types of biotemplates, systematically detail their preparation strategies and summarize their application prospects. Finally, in order to further advance the development of intelligent micro/nanorobots, we discuss the current challenges and future prospects of biotemplates. Intelligent micro/nanorobots based on biotemplates are a perfect combination of natural biotemplates and micro/nanotechnology, which is an important trend for the future development of micro/nanorobots. We hope this review can provide useful references for developing more intelligent, efficient and safe micro/nanorobots in the future.

Current status and future application of electrically controlled micro/nanorobots in biomedicine

Using micro/nanorobots (MNRs) for targeted therapy within the human body is an emerging research direction in biomedical science. These nanoscale to microscale miniature robots possess specificity and precision that are lacking in most traditional treatment modalities. Currently, research on electrically controlled micro/nanorobots is still in its early stages, with researchers primarily focusing on the fabrication and manipulation of these robots to meet complex clinical demands. This review aims to compare the fabrication, powering, and locomotion of various electrically controlled micro/nanorobots, and explore their advantages, disadvantages, and potential applications.

A Micrometric Transformer: Compositional Nanoshell Transformation of Fe3+ -Trimesic-Acid Complex with Concomitant Payload Release in Cell-in-Catalytic-Shell Nanobiohybrids

Nanoencapsulation of living cells within artificial shells is a powerful approach for augmenting the inherent capacity of cells and enabling the acquisition of extrinsic functions. However, the current state of the field requires the development of nanoshells that can dynamically sense and adapt to environmental changes by undergoing transformations in form and composition. This paper reports the compositional transformation of an enzyme-embedded nanoshell of Fe3+ -trimesic acid complex to an iron phosphate shell in phosphate-containing media. The cytocompatible transformation allows the nanoshells to release functional molecules without loss of activities and biorecognition, while preserving the initial shell properties, such as cytoprotection. Demonstrations include the lysis and killing of Escherichia coli by lysozyme, and the secretion of interleukin-2 by Jurkat T cells in response to paracrine stimulation by antibodies. This work on micrometric Transformers will benefit the creation of cell-in-shell nanobiohybrids that can interact with their surroundings in active and adaptive ways.

Nano/Micromotors for Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy: Innovative Designs to Improve Biocompatibility

Nano/micromotors are artificial robots at the nano/microscale that are capable of transforming energy into mechanical movement. In cancer diagnosis or therapy, such "tiny robots" show great promise for targeted drug delivery, cell removal/killing, and even related biomarker sensing. Yet biocompatibility is still the most critical challenge that restricts such techniques from transitioning from the laboratory to clinical applications. In this review, we emphasize the biocompatibility aspect of nano/micromotors to show the great efforts made by researchers to promote their clinical application, mainly including non-toxic fuel propulsion (inorganic catalysts, enzyme, etc.), bio-hybrid designs, ultrasound propulsion, light-triggered propulsion, magnetic propulsion, dual propulsion, and, in particular, the cooperative swarm-based strategy for increasing therapeutic effects. Future challenges in translating nano/micromotors into real applications and the potential directions for increasing biocompatibility are also described.

Applications and Future Prospects of Micro/Nanorobots Utilizing Diverse Biological Carriers

Targeted drug delivery using micro-nano robots (MNRs) is a rapidly advancing and promising field in biomedical research. MNRs enable precise delivery of drugs, addressing a wide range of healthcare needs. However, the application of MNRs in vivo is limited by power issues and specificity in different scenarios. Additionally, the controllability and biological safety of MNRs must be considered. To overcome these challenges, researchers have developed bio-hybrid micro-nano motors that offer improved accuracy, effectiveness, and safety for targeted therapies. These bio-hybrid micro-nano motors/robots (BMNRs) use a variety of biological carriers, blending the benefits of artificial materials with the unique features of different biological carriers to create tailored functions for specific needs. This review aims to give an overview of the current progress and application of MNRs with various biocarriers, while exploring the characteristics, advantages, and potential hurdles for future development of these bio-carrier MNRs.

Bioinspired and Biomimetic Nanomedicines for Targeted Cancer Therapy

Undesirable side effects and multidrug resistance are the major obstacles in conventional chemotherapy towards cancers. Nanomedicines provide alternative strategies for tumor-targeted therapy due to their inherent properties, such as nanoscale size and tunable surface features. However, the applications of nanomedicines are hampered in vivo due to intrinsic disadvantages, such as poor abilities to cross biological barriers and unexpected off-target effects. Fortunately, biomimetic nanomedicines are emerging as promising therapeutics to maximize anti-tumor efficacy with minimal adverse effects due to their good biocompatibility and high accumulation abilities. These bioengineered agents incorporate both the physicochemical properties of diverse functional materials and the advantages of biological materials to achieve desired purposes, such as prolonged circulation time, specific targeting of tumor cells, and immune modulation. Among biological materials, mammalian cells (such as red blood cells, macrophages, monocytes, and neutrophils) and pathogens (such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi) are the functional components most often used to confer synthetic nanoparticles with the complex functionalities necessary for effective nano-biointeractions. In this review, we focus on recent advances in the development of bioinspired and biomimetic nanomedicines (such as mammalian cell-based drug delivery systems and pathogen-based nanoparticles) for targeted cancer therapy. We also discuss the biological influences and limitations of synthetic materials on the therapeutic effects and targeted efficacies of various nanomedicines.