The field of nanorobotics in medicine is predictably complex and challenging, but researchers around the world are making great strides with pioneering techniques. Cancer therapy holds promise for delivering precise doses of active drugs directly to the tumor, thereby minimizing toxic effects on other parts of the body. It is hoped that tiny “machines” will be able to clear blockages, dissolve blood clots, and administer minute doses of drugs to the brain itself.
Deep brain stimulation, in which treatment is delivered via an external device that sends electrical pulses to the brain, may be replaced by internal stimulation. robot stimulation. There is also hope that sending nanoelectronic biosensors into the body could help diagnose diseases and other health conditions.
According to Dr. Daniel Ahmed, Professor of Acoustic Robotics for Life Sciences and Healthcare: Acoustic Robotics System Laboratory in (ARSL) ETH Zurich, the technology is developing rapidly. They have the potential to change the face of cancer therapy and neurosurgical interventions. He said:
“The idea is to allow medical professionals to perform the entire non-invasive procedure.
For example, advanced brain tumors such as glioblastoma could be treated without affecting the rest of the body, or microrobots could be used to perform procedures inside the body that could prevent strokes. I expect
The vision is to be able to navigate inside the brain for all sorts of applications, such as opening the blood-brain barrier (BBB). ”
BBB is an important immunological hallmark of the central nervous system. To protect the brain, it blocks microbes that can enter through the bloodstream. he added:
“The hope is that we can open up the BBB in a very controlled way. Once we have this, we can start delivering drugs directly to the brain.”
little traveler
According to Professor Ahmed, the terms “micro” and “nano” have become interchangeable. Both are used today by scientists, researchers, and other smart medical professionals to describe robots small enough to move inside the human body. The robot itself could be a synthetic device or something entirely organic. Similarly, inorganic materials can be combined with biological building blocks such as cells, proteins, and DNA.
Many are designed to work together in “herds” to accomplish missions. Some are developed for insertion into human veins, while others can be ingested. Everything should be able to safely self-decompose after accomplishing its intended task.
Biocompatibility with the human body is essential, but the shape of the robot also depends on its purpose and how researchers approach the challenges of manipulation and propulsion. Professor Ahmed explained:
“What the robot actually is will vary from research project to research project, as well as the type of pills or other treatments that you actually want to apply.”
propulsion solution
At the Acoustic Robotics Systems Lab, Professor Ahmed and his team have worked on six types of microrobots and nanorobots. These include bubbles encased in polymer shells and imaging chemicals, and another inspired by starfish larvae. It uses tiny hairs to create a vortex of propulsion.
“With no inertia and a very viscous environment, the biggest challenge is how to propel the robot to its intended target through blood flow at this scale. can not.
There’s a lot of work going on right now where people are using magnetic fields to drag microrobots, but in our case we’re using sound fields.
I decided to do this because it is a mature technology. It works in real-time and is already used for imaging in almost every hospital around the world, making it cost-effective. ”
he added:
“The robot we’re using for this is basically self-assembled using ultrasound contrast agents, but if you apply a magnetic field, the robot has to be magnetic.”
researchers from Polytechnic Montreal, University of Montreal When McGill University A nanorobot agent composed of over 100 million flagellated bacteria has been developed to move through the bloodstream. Synthesis of chains of magnetic nanoparticles allows them to move in the direction of the magnetic field, and sensors that measure oxygen concentration allow them to reach and remain in active areas of the tumor. Professor Ahmed suggested:
“Many microrobots are inspired by nature. A good example is how bacteria are propelled by corkscrew movement or the movement of flexible sperm cells. I noticed that you are doing
They go to the wall where drag is minimized and thus can move upstream to travel within the vascular network. ”
smart choice
Professor Ahmed and his team are also looking at how robots will eventually self-train and enable autopilot. Artificial intelligence.
“While this is very exciting, there will be many challenges as we move from our soon-to-be-used mice to higher mammalian models.
Regulations will get tighter, and when you move to humans, the question is whether people will accept the technology, but I think they will.
Of course, it is necessary to consider control and take safety measures. ”
Ethical issues may be raised as various nano- and micro-robotic technologies advance. But if the robot breaks down in the bloodstream after execution, the expectation for those working in the field is that both patients and professionals are eager to adopt technology that has been proven to work.
Professor Ahmed firmly believes that microrobots and nanorobots will not be far from saving lives. He said:
“This technology should be in development in five to seven years, and I really hope that 20 years from now it will be available in hospitals around the world.
By then, it should have reached a point of maturity where patients decide whether to use nanorobotic options or more traditional alternatives.
But given the alternatives of cutting the skull and potentially having serious side effects from cancer drugs, I think patients will choose this. And hopefully, as our research progresses, we’ll also be able to explore whether similar techniques can be used to prevent diseases such as: Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy. ”
