Engineering Nanobots for Targeted Drug Delivery

Bwanbale Geoffrey David

Faculty of Pharmacy Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

The advent of nanotechnology has revolutionized targeted drug delivery through the development of nanobots, autonomous nanoscale devices engineered to navigate biological environments and deliver therapeutics with spatial and temporal precision. These nanobots leverage advanced propulsion mechanisms, including magnetic fields, enzymatic reactions, and temperature gradients, to overcome pharmacokinetic barriers and reach difficult-to-access disease sites such as tumors. Modular in design, nanobots often incorporate biosensors, pH-responsive gates, and biocompatible shells for controlled release and targeting. This paper provides an interdisciplinary overview of nanobot architecture, from historical foundations in nanomedicine to the latest advances in materials, navigation systems, and targeting strategies. Key mechanisms of drug release, such as ligand-receptor binding and stimulus-responsive actuation, are discussed in depth, along with the safety, stability, and efficacy of nanobot-mediated drug delivery. The study also evaluates challenges, including scale constraints, propulsion efficiency, and regulatory hurdles, and proposes future directions for clinical integration. With demonstrated potential in cancer treatment and other complex diseases, nanobots represent a transformative frontier in personalized medicine.

Keywords: Nanobots, Targeted Drug Delivery, Nanomedicine, Magnetic Propulsion, pH-Responsive Release, Biocompatible Nanocarriers, Tumor Targeting.

CITE AS: Bwanbale Geoffrey David (2025). Engineering Nanobots for Targeted Drug Delivery. IAA Journal of Biological Sciences 13(1):124-132. https://doi.org/10.59298/IAAJB/2025/131124132