Blood Cell-Sized Nanorobots Swim Towards The Light

This newly-developed light-guided nanobot can ‘dance’ and even spell out words at the researchers’ whim.

AsianScientist (Nov. 18, 2016) – In a paper published in Nature Nanotechnology, researchers from the University of Hong Kong describe a light-guided nanorobot that could one day be injected into patients to remove tumors.

Although nanorobots have the potential to change the way many diseases are treated, it has proven difficult to squeeze normal electronic sensors and circuits into a micrometer-sized robot at a reasonable price. Currently, the only method to remotely control them is to incorporate tiny magnets inside the nanorobot and guide its movement via an external magnetic field.

Instead, the current robot developed by Dr. Tang Jinyao uses light as the propelling force, responding to light like moths drawn to a flame. The team was inspired by single-celled algae that can sense the intensity of light and swim towards the light source to enhance photosynthesis.

“Light is a more effective option to communicate between microscopic world and macroscopic world. We can conceive that more complicated instructions can be sent to nanorobots which provide scientists with a new tool to further develop more functions into nanorobot and get us one step closer to daily life applications,” Tang explained.

Tang and his team spent three years developing their light-guided nanorobot, using two affordable and widely available semiconductor materials—silicon and titanium oxide—shaped into wires and then twisted into a nanotree. The robots could be made to ‘dance’ or even spell a word under the control of light.

“Although the current Nanorobot cannot be used for disease treatment yet, we are working on the next generation nanorobotic system which is more efficient and biocompatible,” Tang added.



The article can be found at: Dai et al. (2016) Programmable Artificial Phototactic Microswimmer.

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Source: University of Hong Kong.
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