Micro/nanomotors represent a novel class of active drug delivery platforms. By leveraging their autonomous propulsion and microenvironment-responsive characteristics, these platforms exhibit great potential in addressing key challenges of conventional cancer therapies, such as poor targeting specificity, susceptibility to drug resistance, and difficulties in overcoming biological barriers within tumors. This review begins with an overview of the propulsion mechanisms of micro/nanomotors, including chemical, physical, and biological approaches. Subsequently, it provides a systematic discussion on the recent research progress in three pivotal areas: targeted drug delivery, regulation of the tumor mechanical microenvironment, and diagnostic-therapeutic integration. Despite existing challenges related to biosafety, in vivo navigation accuracy, and clinical translation, interdisciplinary convergence and continuous design optimization are anticipated to facilitate the substantive application of intelligent micro/nanomotors in precise tumor therapy in the future.

Gu Wen. Research Advances in Micro/Nanomotors for Tumor Therapy. Academic Journal of Materials & Chemistry (2026), Vol. 7, Issue 1: 18-25. https://doi.org/10.25236/AJMC.2026.070104.

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