Magnetic Micro‐ and Nanorobots for Precision Thrombolysis: Design Strategies and Translational Challenges

Nearly 10 million people continue to suffer from thrombotic diseases worldwide, representing a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Despite their widespread use, current thrombolytic therapies are limited by suboptimal clot specificity, narrow therapeutic windows, and significant bleeding risks. In response, new therapeutic strategies are emerging, among which the use of magnetic micro‐ and nanorobots is particularly promising, as they offer precision thrombolysis through enhanced clot localization, drug delivery, and clot disruption. However, while this technology is novel, there are significant translational hurdles that need to be overcome to ensure clinical use. In this perspective, we first describe the pathophysiology of thrombosis and the major side effects associated with conventional thrombolytic drugs. We then examine emerging thrombotic mitigation strategies that employ magnetic micro‐ and nanorobots, highlighting their design principles, therapeutic mechanisms, and current limitations. Finally, we discuss major remaining translational hurdles, such as biocompatibility and scalable manufacturing processes, ultimately required for regulatory approval. By bridging advances in engineering with translational medicine, micro‐ and nanorobot‐mediated thrombolysis has the potential to shift thrombotic treatments toward more effective and safer clot removal strategies.