From nanoparticles to robotic pills: The evolution of nanotechnology in drug delivery

By allowing exact, targeted, and patient-centric treatments, nanotechnology has revolutionized drug delivery systems (DDSs). This paper tracks the evolution from passive nanoparticles (1980s) to active nanorobots and robotic pills, describing their development processes, applications, and dosage form examples. Along with a comparative analysis of targeting accuracy, bioavailability, patient compliance, and scalability, comprehensive methods for synthesizing, fabricating, and testing each dosage form are offered. Visual aids—including a timeline (1980s–2025) and a figure comparing dosage form mechanisms—show their evolution and function. Emphasizing clinical consequences, tables summarize marketed products, clinical trials, and pros/cons. These DDSs handle conventional therapy constraints—poor bioavailability, systemic toxicity, and low compliance—all the while contending with issues including biocompatibility, legal obstacles, ethical questions, and worldwide access inequalities. Future paths emphasize nanotechnology's capacity to transform medicine by including sustainable manufacturing, fair healthcare, and AI-driven systems.