Micro/Nano-Motors for Enhanced Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy

Cancer remains one of the most significant diseases threatening human health. The lack of effective diagnostic and therapeutic technologies is a critical factor contributing to the high clinical mortality rates associated with malignant tumors. Self-propelled micro/nano-motors (MNMs) hold promise for addressing the limitations of conventional nanoparticles in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Their unique motion characteristics enhance the efficiency of MNMs in achieving rapid distribution, deep tissue penetration, and targeted delivery in vivo. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in MNM-based therapy for tumor diagnosis and treatment, offering a comprehensive overview of their material classification, self-propelled mechanisms, targeting strategies, and therapeutic approaches. Subsequently, we discuss the therapeutic mechanisms of MNMs within the tumor microenvironment in detail and highlight the advantages of synergistic multimodal therapies, including chemodynamic therapy, sonodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and gas therapy. Finally, we outline the main challenges and prospects for the development of MNMs in cancer diagnosis and therapy.