Ultrasmall Helical Nanorobots With Modular Functionality

ABSTRACT Micro/nanorobots have demonstrated considerable potential for applications in complex microenvironments owing to their efficient propulsion and precise controllability. However, integrating on‐demand functions into nanoscale robots‐while simultaneously ensuring that the core structure provides effective propulsion and the major materials guarantee biosafety‐constitutes a formidable challenge. Herein, we report a reconfigurable ultrasmall nanorobot with modular functionality based on a helical mesoporous SiO 2 scaffold coated with a magnetic Ni layer, which enables functional components to be flexibly incorporated or replaced on demand without altering the core robotic structure. These SiO 2 @Ni nanorobots exhibit good biocompatibility and efficient magnetic actuation. The combination of a helical configuration and a mesoporous framework provides abundant surface‐active sites and internal nanochannels, establishing a versatile modular interface for both chemical conjugation and physical loading. As proof‐of‐concept, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) was chemically conjugated for rapid fluorescence sensing of the Lactobacillus microenvironment, while doxorubicin (DOX) was physically loaded to confer therapeutic functionality and effective cytotoxicity against cancer cells. Notably, the ultrasmall helical geometry enables efficient magnetically driven propulsion, enhancing microscale mass transport and improving performance in spatially confined environments. Overall, this work establishes a reconfigurable modular nanorobotic platform for flexibly functionalized nanosystems.