NANOROBOTS: MEDICINE OF THE FUTURE

"Living organisms are naturally -existing, fabulously complex systems of molecular nanotechnology." - Dr. Gregory Fahy. The above statement raises the interesting possibility that machines constructed at the molecular level (nanomachines) may be used to cure the human body of its various ills. This application of nanotechnology to the field of medicine is commonly called as nanomedicine. The approaches to nanomedicine range from the medical use of nanomaterials, to nano electronic biosensors, and even possible future applications of molecular nanotechnology.

INTRODUCTION

Nanotechnology is a new field with many possible uses, medicine being one of them. Nanotech was first predicted by Nobel Laureate Richard Feynman in 1959. It has to do with structures one to several hundred nanometers long in at least one direction. However, nanotechnology doesn t necessarily deal with nanometers, as it can be expanded to include structures measured in microns also. Nanotechnology is an emerging technology seeking to exploit d istinct technological advances of controlling the structure of materials at a reduced dimensional scale approaching individual molecules and their organised aggregates or supramo lecular structures. Basically, the nanometre-length scale is creating possibilities for novel materials that can be used for the construction of devices and systems. Thus was the idea of nano robot conceived.
Nanomedicine would make use of these nanorobots, introduced into the body, to repa or detect ir damages and infections. A typical blood borne medical nanorobot would be between 0.5-3 micrometres in size, because that is the maximum size possible due to capillary passage requirement. DESCRIPTION Nanotechnology as a whole is fairly simple to understand, but developing this universal technology into a nanorobot has been slightly more complicated. To date, scientists have made significant progress but have not officially released a finished product in terms of a nano robot that functions on an entirely mechanical basis. In fact, researchers anticipate that due to the complicated nature of their construction, nanobots will only fully emerge after several generations of partly-biological nanobot forerunners have been constructed in order to make them. Nanorobots are essentially an adapted machine version of bacteria. They are designed to function on the same scale as both bacteria and common viruses in order to interact with and repel them from the human system. A typical blood

borne medical n anorobot would be between 0.5 -3 micrometres in size, because that is the maximum size possible due to capillary passage requirement . Carbon would be the primary element used to build these nanorobots due to the inherent strength and other characteristics of some forms of carbon and nanorobots would be fabricated in desktop

nanofactories specialized for this purpose. To avoid being attacked by the hosts immune system, the best choice for the exterior coating is a passive diamond coating .The smoother and more flawless the coating, the less the reaction from the bodys immune system. Such devices have been designed in recent years but no working model has been built so far. Nanodevices could be observed at work inside the body using MRI, especially if their components were manufactured using mostly 13C atoms rather than the natural 12C isotope of carbon, since 13C has a nonzero nuclear magnetic moment.

Nanofactory
The nanofactory is a proposed compact molecular manufacturing system, possibly small enough to sit on a desktop that could build a diverse selection of large-scale molecularly precise diamondoid products. The nanofactory is potentially a high quality, extremely low cost, and very flexible manufacturing system. The principal input to a diamondoid nanofactory is simple hydrocarbon feedstock molecules such as natural gas, propane, or acetylene. Small supplemental amounts of a few other simple molecules containing trace atoms of chemical elements such as oxygen, nitrogen or silicon may also be required. The nanofactory must be provided with electrical power and a means for cooling the working unit.

The principal output of the first commercial nanofactory will be macroscale quantities of molecularly precise diamondoid products. These products may include nano computers medical nano robots, products having diverse aerospace and defence applications applications, devices for cheap energy production and environments remediation , and a cornucopia of new and improved consumer products. Earlier-generation research nanofactories will produce substantially less complex products but will provide an evolutionary pathway leading from the first simple DMS workstations to more mature commercial systems. The nanofactory is a molecular manufacturing system employing controlled molecular assembly that will make possible the creation of fundamentally novel products having the intricate complexity currently found only in biological systems, but operating with greater speed, power, reliability, and, most importantly, entirely under human control. Molecular manufacturing has the potential to be extremely clean efficient and inexpensive.

Our nanofactory will be constructed from diamondoid components of the same sort that it can itself manufacture. While molecular manufacturing systems made from DNA, other biopolymers, or even biological organisms are possible, such systems would be unable to build products that approach the remarkable strength, stiffness, temperature range, lightness, electrical, optical and other properties that can achieved with diamondoid materials. The long-term goal of the nanofactory collaboration is to design, and ultimately to build, a working diamondoid nanofactory.

FIELDS OF APPLICATION: 1. Prevention and Control of Cancer that can deliver cancer nanoscale devices Developing prevention agents and anticancer vaccines usin g nanoscale delivery vehicles 2. Early Detection and Proteomics that can detect implantable molecular sensors Creating cancer-associated biomarkers. 3. Imaging Diagnostics that targeted contrast agents smart injectable, Designing improve the resolution of cancer to the single cell levelThe six major challenge areas of emphasis 4. Multifunctional Therapeutics that integrate diagnostic nanoscale devices Developing and therapeutic functions . 5. Quality of Life Enha ncement in Cancer Care that can optimally deliver nanoscale devices Designing medications for treating side effects due to chronic anticancer therapy, includi ng pain, nausea, loss of appetite, depression, and dif.culty breathing 6. Interdisciplinary Training Coordinating efforts to provide cross -training in biology to nanotechnology molecular and systems nanotechnology to cancer researchers and in engineers.

To cure skin diseases, a cream containing nanorobots may be used. It could remove the right amount of dead skin, remove excess oils, add missing oils, apply the right amounts of natural moisturizing compounds, and even achieve the elusive goal of 'deep pore cleaning' by actually reaching down into pores and cleaning them out. The cream could be a smart material with smooth -on, peel-off convenience. A mouthwash full of smart nanomachines could identify and destro y pathogenic bacteria while allowing the harmless flora of the mouth to flourish in a healthy ecosystem. Further, the devices would identify particles of food, plaque, or tartar, and lift them from teeth to be rinsed away. Being suspended in liquid and able to swim about, devices would be able to reach surfaces beyond reach of toothbrush bristles or the fibers of floss. As short -lifetime medical nanodevices, they could be built to last only a few minutes in the body before falling apart into materials of th e sort found in foods (such as fiber). Medical nanodevices could augment the immune system by finding and disabling unwanted bacteria and viruses. When an invader is identified, it can be punctured, letting its contents spill out and ending its effectivene ss. If the contents were known to be hazardous by themselves, then the immune machine could hold on to it long enough to dismantle it more completely.

Devi es i i t e l st eam l i le away at arteri sclerosis eposits, wi ening t e affected lood vessels. ell erding devices could restore artery walls and artery linings to ealt , y ensuring t at t e right cells and supporting structures are in the right places. his would prevent most heart attacks.

A nanorobot delivers a molecule to the organ inlet represented by the white cylinder.

Medical nanorobot. omputer artwork of a medical nanorobot holding a sperm cell. Microscopic robot technology could be developed in the future to treat disorders, such as infertility, in new ways. his machine has identified a suitable sperm cell Etical aspects of nanotechnology

hallenges
y

Nanorobot has to be small and agile enough to navigate through the human circulatory system, an incredibly complex network of veins and arteries. he robot must also have the capacity to carry medication or miniature tools.

Assuming the nanorobot isn't meant to stay in the patient forever, it also has to be able to make its way out of the host.