Open Access

REVIEW

Nanorobots and Exosomes: Driving the New Frontier for Bladder Tumors through Non-Coding RNAs

Lorenzo Spirito¹, Cristina Quintavalle², Paola Coppola¹, Matteo Esposito³, Francesco Esposito^2,3, Gabriella De Vita³, Pierlorenzo Pallante^2,3,*

1 Urology Unit, Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
2 Institute of Endotypes in Oncology, Metabolism and Immunology (IEOMI) “G. Salvatore”, National Research Council (CNR), Naples, Italy
3 Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology (DMMBM), University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy

* Corresponding Author: Pierlorenzo Pallante. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Innovations in Genitourinary Oncology: Integrating Tumor Immunology and Precision Medicine)

Oncology Research 2026, 34(10), 8 https://doi.org/10.32604/or.2026.078045

Received 23 December 2025; Accepted 09 May 2026; Issue published 14 September 2026

Abstract

Because of its limited treatment choices and high recurrence rates, bladder cancer (BCa) presents a significant clinical issue. As a result, current research is concentrated on creating novel approaches for early diagnosis and more specialized treatments. Nanorobots hold significant potential as precise medicine-delivery systems and as in situ diagnostic vectors within this dynamic environment. Personalized treatments are becoming increasingly feasible thanks to new insights into the molecular pathways driving tumor growth, revealed through studies on exosomes and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), however, their true potential lies in integrating these findings. This review analyzes the role of nanorobots, exosomes and ncRNAs in BCa and, more importantly, proposes a synergistic framework where active nanorobots are used for the targeted delivery of therapeutic exosomes (loaded with ncRNAs), overcoming the physiological limitations of intravesical administration. The interplay between nanorobots, exosomes and ncRNAs outlines a coherent and synergistic therapeutic approach with nanorobots enabling active navigation, exosomes offering stable and biocompatible loading, and ncRNAs providing the precision molecular functions required for targeted intervention. Their integration constitutes the core rationale driving this emerging approach and this technological convergence may open new avenues for precision diagnosis and targeted therapy. Incorporating these state-of-the-art technologies could ultimately transform the treatment of BCa and greatly enhance patient outcomes and quality of life. The aim of this review is to evaluate the current evidence on these three technologies and to define an integrated strategy that addresses existing clinical barriers and advances precision medicine in BCa.

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Keywords

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