I. Nano Spider Robots
In May 2010, scientists at Columbia University in the United States successfully developed a nano-spider robot made of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules. This robot can freely walk, move, turn, and stop following the trajectory of DNA, and it can also freely walk on the surface of two-dimensional objects. This nano-spider robot is only 4 nanometers long, smaller than one hundred-thousandth the diameter of a human hair.
Scientists have programmed nanorobots to move along specific tracks. This research demonstrates that once programmed, these nanorobots can complete tasks automatically without human intervention. Therefore, they are considered ideal tools for medical applications, helping to identify and kill cancer cells to treat cancer, assisting in surgical procedures, and clearing debris from arteries. Scientists are continuously improving these nanorobots, aiming to create large numbers of them in the future, allowing them to patrol the body automatically and continuously, searching for disease signals and providing doctors with more accurate diagnoses.
II. Nanomagnetic particles
At the "WSJD Online" Global Technology Conference, Andrew Conrad, head of the Life Sciences Group at Google Labs, revealed that Google is designing a type of magnetic nanoparticle that can enter the human circulatory system for early diagnosis of cancer and other diseases. These magnetic nanoparticles are essentially nanorobots. When you have a cold or fever, doctors implant nanorobots in your bloodstream. These robots detect the source of the cold virus within the body, reach the virus's location, and directly release drugs to kill it. Beyond colds and fevers, nanorobots are adept at precisely locating and killing cancer cells, clearing blood clots, removing fat deposits in arteries, cleaning wounds, and breaking up stones, all using the same mechanism. An even more incredible application is using nanorobots as a medium to connect the human brain's nervous system with external network systems, bringing an unimaginable revolution to the development of human intelligence and potential, completely changing lifestyles, work methods, and even humanity itself.
Although the idea is incredibly appealing, and some research institutions in the United States, Japan, and other countries have successfully developed nanorobots for the detection and treatment of various diseases, nanorobot technology remains in the research and development stage to date, and no project has yet truly entered clinical practice.
III. Gene Repair Nanorobots
Finally, let's learn about the last category of nanorobots—gene repair nanorobots.
A team led by Charles, an associate professor of chemistry at the University of Florida, and Chen Liu, chair of the Gastrointestinal and Liver Research Committee and professor of pathology at the University of Florida's School of Medicine, has developed a nanorobot called a "nanozyme" that targets the hepatitis C virus in the liver. It uses gold nanoparticles as its main scaffold and its surface primarily consists of two biological components: an enzyme that destroys mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid), known as the "gene messenger," which can produce disease-causing proteins; and a DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) low-nucleotide macromolecule that recognizes the target genetic material and notifies its enzyme partners to perform the task. The nanozyme can also be tailored to match the target's genetic material and infiltrate cells undetected using the body's inherent defense mechanisms. In experiments, these novel nanoparticles almost eradicated hepatitis C virus infection, and their programmability makes them potentially resistant to various diseases, such as cancer and other viral infections. Researchers point out that further experiments are needed to determine the safety of this nanorobot, and it may be available in oral pill form in the future.
