Scientists have
developed the world's first light-seeking synthetic nanorobot, which may help
surgeons remove tumours and enable more precise engineering of targeted
medications.
It has been a dream in
science fiction for decades that tiny robots can fundamentally change our daily
life. The classic movie ‘Fantastic Voyage' is a great example, depicting a
group of scientists driving their miniaturised nano-submarine inside a human
body to repair a damaged brain.
In the real world,
however, it is an altogether different challenge to design a sophisticated
nanorobot with advanced functions. Now a team of researchers, led by Dr Jinyao
Tang from the University of Hong Kong, has developed the world's first
light-seeking synthetic nanorobot.
With a size comparable
to a blood cell, those tiny robots have the potential to be directly injected
into patients' bodies, enabling surgeons to guide them toward tumours and
facilitating more precise engineering of targeted medications.
Given that each
nanorobot is barely a few micrometre in size (about 50 times smaller than the
diameter of an average human hair), it is generally challenging to squeeze
normal electronic sensors and circuits into nanorobots within reasonable price
points.
Currently the only
method to remotely control nanorobots is to incorporate tiny magnets inside
them and guide them on with the help of an external magnetic field. However,
the nanorobot developed by Tang's team takes a different route-it is built to
use light as the propelling force.
The team demonstrated
the unprecedented ability of these light-controlled nanorobots as they were
made to ‘dance', and even spell a word under the influence of a controlling
light source. With a novel nanotree structure, the nanorobots can respond to
the light shining on it like moths being drawn to a flame. The team gained inspiration
for the nanorobot design by studying natural green algae. Despite being a
single cell, these green algae can sense the intensity of light and swim
towards the light source for photosynthesis. The findings were published in the
journal Nature Nanotechnology. -PTI
Source: DNA -November 11,2016
http://epaper2.dnaindia.com/index.php?pagedate=2016-11-11&edcode=820009&subcode=820009&mod=1&pgnum=2
Source: DNA -November 11,2016
http://epaper2.dnaindia.com/index.php?pagedate=2016-11-11&edcode=820009&subcode=820009&mod=1&pgnum=2
