Graduate students and scientists at Nanorobotics Laboratories have discovered a way of perhaps fighting cancer by using magnetic nanobots-or robots that are around the size of a nanometer (one billionth of a meter). This fascinating process sounds like the work of science fiction writers, but may prove to be the most effective method of battling cancer that the medical community has ever seen.
So how does this process work? Well, to put it simply, magnets release bacteria into a human's blood that fights disease.
The nanobots are released into the bloodstream through an injection. Once these nanobots are released and moving around the bloodstream, scientists on the outside are stationed at computers to guide the nanobots on their way. A special remote device is used to activate the nanobots primary function: releasing bacteria! It might seem strange that bacteria are used to kill a disease. doesn't this seem counter-productive? Actually it's quite the opposite. These bacteria, in whatever situation in which the nanobots are used, would be altered in a lab and specially equipped to fight the disease that is targeted. Once this bacteria is released, doctors will activate magnets in the afflicted area that attract the bacteria which then begins to break down the disease.
This is a long, expensive, complicated process, never thought to be practical or realistic during it's conception in October of 2006. However, after years of testing, the nanobots proved successful in October of 2012. So, 6 years after it's conception, this innovative idea for the medical world has finally proven to be something applicable to real life instead of science fiction. While this process still remains in it's testing phases and will still be very expensive when it is available to the public, this method is extremely significant in the robotics community, demonstrating how bigger isn't always better, but also by showing the public the multiple uses of robots.
This article was written by Parker Thompson
Information and news from spectrum.ieee.org
So how does this process work? Well, to put it simply, magnets release bacteria into a human's blood that fights disease.
The nanobots are released into the bloodstream through an injection. Once these nanobots are released and moving around the bloodstream, scientists on the outside are stationed at computers to guide the nanobots on their way. A special remote device is used to activate the nanobots primary function: releasing bacteria! It might seem strange that bacteria are used to kill a disease. doesn't this seem counter-productive? Actually it's quite the opposite. These bacteria, in whatever situation in which the nanobots are used, would be altered in a lab and specially equipped to fight the disease that is targeted. Once this bacteria is released, doctors will activate magnets in the afflicted area that attract the bacteria which then begins to break down the disease.
This is a long, expensive, complicated process, never thought to be practical or realistic during it's conception in October of 2006. However, after years of testing, the nanobots proved successful in October of 2012. So, 6 years after it's conception, this innovative idea for the medical world has finally proven to be something applicable to real life instead of science fiction. While this process still remains in it's testing phases and will still be very expensive when it is available to the public, this method is extremely significant in the robotics community, demonstrating how bigger isn't always better, but also by showing the public the multiple uses of robots.
This article was written by Parker Thompson
Information and news from spectrum.ieee.org