Next-generation biomedical nanorobots: active design, intelligent control, and translational opportunities in regenerative and minimally invasive medicine

Biomedical nanorobots represent an emerging class of active nanosystems that enable controlled navigation, sensing, and targeted intervention within complex biological environments. This review presents recent developments in nanorobot design, highlighting key material architectures, including inorganic, soft, hybrid, and biohybrid systems and their modular integration for biomedical functionality. Major propulsion and control strategies, such as chemical, magnetic, and acoustic actuation, are discussed alongside emerging capabilities in environmental sensing, swarm intelligence, and AI-assisted control. Applications in regenerative medicine and MIIs are examined, with emphasis on targeted drug delivery, tissue repair, and theranostic systems across diverse disease contexts. Despite promising preclinical progress, significant translational challenges remain, including biological interactions, long-term biosafety, manufacturing scalability, and regulatory uncertainty. Finally, we outline key research priorities, including the development of biodegradable systems, standardized evaluation frameworks, and integration with imaging and digital medicine, to facilitate the safe and effective clinical translation of nanorobotics.