Nano Robots: The Future of Healthcare

Nano robots are nanosized machines that could revolutionize medicine in many ways. Nanotechnology is an area of research that involves different disciplines, containing wide derivatives of Engineering, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry as well. The latest developments in the field of nanotechnology have led to the development of nanoscopic materials for biomedical implementations and robotic surgery advancements used to improve treatment.

In medical nanorobotics, concepts of physics are used to make robotic agents work free from tethers. So that they can work independently within the human body without needing to physically connect for power.

In labs, Nanorobots can transfer materials to specific locations in the organisms. On the micro-level, nanorobots perform several chores such as less intrusive diagnostics, cure of illness, and taking drugs to specific parts. In addition, they can perform local surgical procedures.

Besides advancements, a limited amount of research has been done on the potential risks and controls associated with nanorobots. All of this is the result of comprehensive research and continuous advancement in the biomedical utilization of nanorobots.

Evolution of Nano Robots

The first scientist to develop the term “nanorobots” was the physicist Richard Feynman. In 1959, in his popular talk “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom”, he commented that Nano dips and nanorobots are for curing heart diseases.

The scientist Eric Drexler was so greatly inspired by his talk that he published his book called, “Engines of Creation”. He mentioned genetically programmed molecular machines as upcoming technologies in cellular biology.

The first research on nanorobots was done by Robert Freitas. It was about reciprocated, medical robots that resemble red blood cells. Nanorobots could then be defined as controllable nanoscale machines that are made of a sensor and a motor capable of performing certain functions. They are closely related to complex pieces of fabric.

Robert Wood defined nanorobots as devices that can detect friends or enemies. When they go through a conformational change after sensing an enemy, they catalyze the release of a substance. That substance can act against that enemy.

Nano robots are not just an idea on a piece of paper, they are currently in the process of development. The components of nanorobots include:

• Sensors
• Propulsion
• Navigation Systems

Nowadays, research has been focused on nanomotors which are a key part of propulsion components. Magnetic and acoustic-driven nanomotors have been installed in the field of medicine. Nonetheless, a lot of research is needed to create a functional nanorobot to complete tasks for human beings.

How Nano Robots Work?

Nanorobotics function using robots at the nanoscale called nanorobots. How nanorobots should be designed and operated depends on your usage. Nanorobots generally use nanoscale sensors, control systems, and actuators to operate.

Nanorobots can detect specific signals or the presence of a certain type of molecule or material with the help of sensors installed in them. The sensors transmit this information to their control systems. The control system of nanorobots can decide which action to take depending on the condition detected.

Nanorobots’ actuators can be used to perform a wide range of actions such as movement, and release of drugs in the human body. It can also perform manipulation of structures or materials.

To perform intended tasks efficiently, nanorobots need to align with their environment to navigate and interact. This can be done by using a variety of methods such as self-propulsion, remote control, or through chemical or biological means.

Applications in Healthcare

The field of nanorobots has a wide range of applications across different industries. It’s a notable point here that all these industrial applications are still theoretical.

Improved Medical Treatments

Nanorobots can perform calculations with accuracy and more precision than humans. This results in effective treatment of patients with fewer side effects. The good aspect is that patients can recover in a short time.

Environmental Cleanup

Nanorobots can assist human beings in disposing of toxic waste, oil spills, and other substances that are harmful to the environment. This could reduce the risk of pollution which eventually will reduce the danger to human engagement in toxic waste.

Enhanced Manufacturing

Nanorobots can improve the quality and efficiency of manufacturing processes with precision and accuracy. This level of precision is difficult to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods. Thus, nanorobots can improve the quality and consistency of products, reduce waste, ensure workers’ safety, and reduce errors.

Increased Scientific Knowledge

Nanorobots can act as research tools to assist scientists in understanding the nanoscale world. In this way, they can contribute to breakthroughs in nanorobots’ technological advancements. The nanoscale refers to a nanometer (nm), which is one billionth of a meter.

Advancements in Material Science

We can use nanorobots to manipulate and assemble materials at the nanoscale. This would result in new materials with unique properties. For instance, we can develop materials with greater strength, durability, and conductivity by the specific arrangement of atoms and molecules in nanorobots.                               

Space Exploration

We can use nanorobots in space for manufacturing, repairing, and maintaining satellites and other spacecraft. For instance, micro-holes in spacecraft can be closed using nanorobots.

Challenges and Risks

The manufacture and installation of nanorobots has come up with various challenges:

Technical Complexity

Designing and operating nanorobots involves many technical difficulties and it is a complicated process. Some technical complexity factors include the development of nanoscale components, controlling the movement of nanorobots, and ensuring their stability.

Safety Concerns

The potential of nanorobots in environmental and medical applications increases concerns about their safety. For instance, they could harm patients in case of failure or error. These are some of the risks associated with nanorobots.

Regulatory Issues

A few regulatory measures have been taken to govern the development and implementation of nanorobots. This could result in their slow widespread adoption by public and private sector individuals.

Funding and Resources

The manufacturing process of nanorobots’ is quite expensive and demands significant funding and resources. It also requires specialized equipment and trained personnel to operate nanorobots.

Scalability

The construction and installation of many nanorobots for different industries can be challenging. It requires a great deal of time to completely manufacture a fully functional nanorobot.

Risks

Nanorobots can harm living organisms and the environment if not designed and controlled properly. For instance, if nanorobots were designed to remove cellular debris in the human body instead, they could end up attacking healthy cells or tissues. This will cause serious harm to the patient.

Another risk might include the harmful use of nanorobots. Such as nanorobots could be used as weapons for industrial undercover activities.

Impact on Healthcare Industry

Nanorobots can destroy cancer cells through thermal necrosis. This is the process when a non-disturbing external heating source is applied to destroy cancer cells. For instance, supermagnetic beads can interact with cancerous tissues, penetrate inside them, and then can destroy cancer tissues with a magnetic field.

Nanorobots can be used to travel through the patient’s gingiva to deliver analgesic to the target site. It can perform surgeries at the nano level in the retina and surrounding membranes and in pregnant women as well. It can also be used for comparing two DNA chains in gene therapy. The applications of nanorobots in medicine are many and diverse.

Current Research and Future Prospects

Nanorobots will play an important role in the medical field shortly. They will work like a “nano doctor” examining inside the human body. Cancer treatment has been given a special priority in this regard because it is one of the main causes of the increased number of deaths in the world.

For treating cancer, nanorobots will move independently inside the human body and locate the cancer cells. When it finds the cancer cell, it will release a drug there.  As a result, the side effects of drugs on the healthy parts of the body will be reduced.

Current research has revealed that the ideal delivery route for nanorobots will be no bigger than a biological cell, or even smaller to travel through the circulatory system. Biohybrid nanorobots could be able to remove blood clots from the brain without requiring surgery. Nanorobots will deliver drugs directly to affected organs and will assist with fertilization.

Conclusion

Since nanorobots are built to operate at the nanoscale they can perform tasks with higher accuracy and precision than human beings. The capabilities of these robots are beyond those of conventional macro-scale robots. Nanorobots have a wide range of unique properties and capabilities that show their potential to control and operate materials at the nanoscale. This would make them highly valuable for several applications across various industries and environments.

Frequently Asked Questions on Nano Robot