Saudi Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SJMPS)
Volume-11 | Issue-07 | 697-709
Review Article
Nanobots: The Future of Targeted Drug Delivery and Cancer Treatment
Omar Waleed Abduljaleel Albasri, Lina S. Adham
Published : July 31, 2025
Abstract
Cancer is still one of the top causes of deaths in the world, taking almost 10 million human lives in 2020. While great strides are being made in the management of this disease, traditional tumour treatments still grapple with immense systemic toxicity, drug resistance, and the failure of drugs to precisely target complex tumour environments. Nanotechnology may overcome these issues, and a nanostructure robot for targeting drug delivery nanobots is increasingly considered one of the groundbreaking approaches in oncology. The present review covers the development, mechanisms, and applications of nanobots in cancer therapy, focusing on their potential to improve treatment efficacy with reduced adverse effects. Smart, stimuli-responsive nanobots can release their content based on tumour-specific factors like pH or temperature, enhancing therapy precision. Applications range from immunotherapy and gene therapy to overcoming obstacles in the form of the blood-brain barrier, demonstrating the versatility of nanobots in the treatment of aggressive cancers. More recently, AI and organ-on-a-chip models are combined to further perfect the design of nanobots and forecast the results of therapeutics, moving toward personalized treatments of cancer. Challenges are yet incomplete: biocompatibility, immunogenicity, and scalability remain relevant, besides regulatory and ethical concerns. Overcoming such limitations requires both interdisciplinary collaboration and technical development. The present review underlines the transformative potential of nanobots in the field of drug targeting and cancer therapy, a position whereby nanobots are a cornerstone of next-generation precision medicine. Nanobots overcome current limitations, hence promising safer, more effective, and personalized solutions for cancer treatment.