Micro/Nanorobots for Advanced Light‐Based Biosensing and Imaging

Abstract

Sensing and imaging of biomolecules are crucial to disease diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy where optical techniques have essential utility. Untethered and remotely controlled micro/nanorobots have shown promising sensing and imaging capabilities, especially in complex biological environments. In this review, how micro/nanorobots are used for optical biosensing and imaging while highlighting the significant developments in the field is discussed. Starting is done by exploring colorimetric biosensing methods enabled by micro/nanorobots. Significant advancements in surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy‐integrated micro/nanorobots are reviewed. Further, state‐of‐the‐art optical bio‐imaging applications by micro/nanorobots at in vitro intracellular level are highlighted. Novel in vivo bio‐imaging assisted by optical micro/nanorobot sensors is examined. Furthermore, innovations in micro/nanorobots are assessed where motion augmentation is used as a detection mechanism, with applications in point‐of‐care molecular diagnostics. Finally, the challenges associated with micro/nanorobots‐assisted advanced optical biosensing and imaging while discussing insights about potential research directions for this rapidly progressing field are summarized.