Intelligent, self-powered, drug delivery systems

Self-propelled nano/micromotors and pumps are considered to be next generation drug delivery systems since the carriers can either propel themselves (motor-based drug delivery) or be delivered (pump-based drug delivery) to the target in response to specific biomarkers. Recently, there has been significant advancement towards developing nano/microtransporters into proof-of-concept tools for biomedical applications. This review encompasses the progress made to date on the design of synthetic nano/micromotors and pumps with respect to transportation and delivery of cargo at specific locations. Looking ahead, it is possible to imagine a day when intelligent machines navigate through the human body and perform challenging tasks.