%0 Journal Article
%T Living, Biohybrid, and Self-Propelled Drug Carriers: A Horizon Review of Programmable Targeting, Biological Navigation, and Translational Risk
%A Laura Keller
%A Thomas Lehmann
%A Simon Brunner
%A Christoph Meier
%A David Thompson
%J International Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Allied Sciences
%@ 2277-3657
%D 2026
%V 15
%N 1
%R 10.51847/P4qgtoTKhm
%P 10-21
%X Living, biohybrid, and self-propelled drug carriers seek to overcome limitations of conventional nanomedicine by incorporating active movement, biological sensing, endogenous homing, externally directed navigation, or locally triggered release. Their defining opportunities arise from coupling pharmaceutical payloads to microorganisms, mammalian cells, cell-derived membranes, biological vesicles, chemically reactive micromotors, or externally guided microdevices. However, technological novelty frequently exceeds the maturity of the supporting pharmaceutical evidence. This horizon review applies structured literature surveillance, technology classification, weak-signal identification, and opportunity–risk–readiness analysis to distinguish established mechanisms from emerging indications and speculative possibilities. The reviewed modalities include bacteria-driven microswimmers, neutrophil and macrophage carriers, erythrocyte- and sperm-based biohybrids, membrane-coated and exosome-derived particles, reactive gastric micromotors, enzyme-powered bladder nanomotors, magnetically guided systems, and intracellular release platforms. Evidence signals suggest that localized administration, route-constrained propulsion, biological-interface engineering, improved observability, and measurable containment may offer nearer-term development opportunities than unrestricted systemic autonomy. Conversely, uncertain biodistribution, dynamic protein-corona formation, immunogenicity, viable-organism persistence, incomplete shutdown or retrieval, source-material heterogeneity, manufacturing reproducibility, and combination-product ambiguity remain major translational risks. The central conclusion is that active motion or biological navigation cannot alone establish pharmaceutical value. Readiness instead depends on demonstrating that the added biological or mechanical complexity produces a reproducible advantage over simpler carriers while preserving product definition, controllability, safety, manufacturability, and clinically relevant performance. The proposed horizon categories organize emerging evidence but do not constitute validated forecasts, regulatory classifications, or predictions of clinical adoption. 
%U https://ijpras.com/article/living-biohybrid-and-self-propelled-drug-carriers-a-horizon-review-of-programmable-targeting-bio-ivsfovyeojyweks