Nanorobotic Applications Research Articles

A Significant Prospective on Nanorobotics in Precision Medicine and Therapeutic Interventions.

Nanorobotics, situated at the intersection of nanotechnology and robotics, holds the potential for revolutionary impact on precision medicine and medical interventions. This review explores the design, navigation, drug delivery, and applications of nanorobots. Architectural intricacies, sensor integration, and navigation strategies, both active and passive, are discussed. Nanorobots are poised to play a pivotal role in controlled drug delivery and personalized medicine, including disease-specific targeting. Their applications span across various domains, including cancer therapy, neurological interventions, and emerging fields. Despite the promises, challenges such as technological hurdles, regulatory considerations, and safety concerns are also acknowledged. The review anticipates a transformative impact on healthcare, offering a comprehensive guide for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers navigating the evolving landscape of nanorobotics.

Non-Stokesian dynamics of magnetic helical nanoswimmers under confinement.

Electromagnetically propelled helical nanoswimmers offer great potential for nanorobotic applications. Here, the effect of confinement on their propulsion is characterized using lattice-Boltzmann simulations. Two principal mechanisms give rise to their forward motion under confinement: (i) pure swimming and (ii) the thrust created by the differential pressure due to confinement. Under strong confinement, they face greater rotational drag but display a faster propulsion for fixed driving frequency in agreement with experimental findings. This is due to the increased differential pressure created by the boundary walls when they are sufficiently close to each other and the particle. We have proposed two analytical relations (i) for predicting the swimming speed of an unconfined particle as a function of its angular speed and geometrical properties, and (ii) an empirical expression to accurately predict the propulsion speed of a confined swimmer as a function of the degree of confinement and its unconfined swimming speed. At low driving frequencies and degrees of confinement, the systems retain the expected linear behavior consistent with the predictions of the Stokes equation. However, as the driving frequency and/or the degree of confinement increase, their impact on propulsion leads to increasing deviations from the Stokesian regime and emergence of nonlinear behavior.

Nanorobots and its advancements in medical field

This paper reviews the potential applications of nanorobots in oncology, cardiology, neurology, respiratory medicine, and nephrology, emphasizing their role in precision drug delivery, cancer therapy, diagnostic procedures, surgical interventions, and disease management. Nanorobots perform particular tasks with great accuracy and precision. They are capable of sensing the environment, transmitting signals to technicians, processing information, and exhibiting intelligence at the nanoscale. They are utilized for treating various illnesses in medical specialties such as cardiology, respiratory, neurology, nephrology, and ophthalmology. Nanorobots can be primarily used in surgery. The material characteristics, such as non-toxicity and biocompatibility, are critical for their safe interaction within the human body. Furthermore, various insertion methods, including intravenous and intra-tumoral injections, are explored. Future advancements are anticipated to enhance multifunctionality, targeting specificity, and integration with artificial intelligence, leading to more autonomous and efficient nanorobots. The integration of nanorobots in medical practice could revolutionize healthcare by offering minimally invasive, highly precise, and personalized treatment options, significantly improving patient outcomes and quality of life.

The occupational directness of nanorobots in medical surgeries

The incorporation of nanotechnology into the field of medicine is on the brink of bringing about a significant transformation in surgical procedures. Notable advancements in surgical nanorobots hold the promise of delivering improved levels of precision and functionality. In this comprehensive examination, we delve into recent progress and future trajectories in the domain of surgical nanorobots, with particular emphasis on advancements seen in biological and diamondoid-based nanorobots, computational nanomechatronics, and various techniques employed in nanomanufacturing. This discourse highlights key areas such as the evolutionary journey of nanorobots towards more intricate designs, the incorporation of intelligent materials into their structure, and the strides being made in the development of sophisticated targeting and navigation systems. Furthermore, the discussion extends to exploring the potential applications of nanorobots in minimally invasive surgeries and tele-operated procedures, emphasizing their crucial roles in tasks such as controlled drug release, actuation and mobility mechanisms, and the integration of cutting- edge sensing technologies. Novel approaches, including self-assembly processes, swarm robotics strategies, and the utilization of energy harvesting mechanisms, are thoroughly analyzed, highlighting their pivotal roles in enhancing the efficacy and autonomy of these miniature devices. Moreover, the narrative also addresses the various challenges that lie ahead and potential future pathways in materials engineering, targeting methodologies, diagnostic tools, and the seamless integration of nanorobots with the existing landscape of medical technologies. It is evident that, with the continuous stream of advancements being made, surgical nanorobots are poised to bring about a paradigm shift in patient care, ushering in unparalleled levels of precision and therapeutic capabilities.

Enhancing supercapacitor performance through design optimization of laser-induced graphene and MWCNT coatings for flexible and portable energy storage

The field of supercapacitors consistently focuses on research and challenges to improve energy efficiency, capacitance, flexibility, and stability. Low-cost laser-induced graphene (LIG) offers a promising alternative to commercially available graphene for next-generation wearable and portable devices, thanks to its remarkable specific surface area, excellent mechanical flexibility, and exceptional electrical properties. We report on the development of LIG-based flexible supercapacitors with optimized geometries, which demonstrate high capacitance and energy density while maintaining flexibility and stability. Three-dimensional porous graphene films were synthesized, and devices with optimized parameters were fabricated and tested. One type of device utilized LIG, while two other types were fabricated on LIG by coating multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) at varying concentrations. Characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and voltammetry, were employed to analyze the fabricated devices. AFM analysis revealed a surface roughness of 2.03 µm for LIG due to laser treatment. SEM images displayed compact, dense, and porous surface morphology. XRD analysis confirmed the presence of graphene and graphene oxide, which was further supported by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) data. Raman spectroscopy indicated that the fabricated samples exhibited distinct D and G bands at 1362 cm–1 and 1579 cm–1, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) results showed that LIG's capacitance, power density, and energy density were 6.09 mF cm–2, 0.199 mW cm–2, and 3.38 µWh cm–2, respectively, at a current density of 0.2 mA cm–2. The LIG-MWCNT coated electrode exhibited a higher energy density of 6.05 µWh cm–2 and an areal-specific capacitance of 51.975 mF cm–2 compared to the LIG-based devices. The fabricated device has potential applications in smart electronics, nanorobotics, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and wearable and portable electronics.

Resonant optical trapping of Janus nanoparticles in plasmonic nanoaperture

Controlled trapping of light-absorbing nanoparticles with low-power optical tweezers is crucial for remote manipulation of small objects. This study takes advantage of the synergetic effects of tightly confined local fields of plasmonic nanoaperture, self-induced back-action (SIBA) of nanoparticles, and resonant optical trapping method to demonstrate enhanced manipulation of Janus nanoparticles in metallic nanohole aperture. We theoretically demonstrate that displacement of Au-coated Janus nanoparticles toward plasmonic nanoaperture and proper orientation of the metal coating give rise to enhanced near-field intensity and pronounced optical force. We also explore the effect of resonant optical trapping by employing a dual-laser system, where an on-resonant green laser excites the metal-coated nanoparticle, whereas an off-resonant near-infrared laser plays trapping role. It is found that, at the optimum nanoparticle configuration, the resonant optical trapping technique can result in threefold enhancement of optical force, which is attributed to the excitation of surface plasmon resonance in Janus nanoparticles. The findings of this study might pave the way for low-power optical manipulation of light-absorbing nanoparticles with possible applications in nanorobotics and drug delivery.

Influence of electron beam irradiation on nanoscale adhesion during colloidal probe experiments inside the scanning electron microscope

Scanning electron microscope is not only a versatile visualization and characterization tool for nanomaterials, but it is also widely used for visual feedback during assembly and manipulation of micro- and nanoparticles, novel devices based on 2D and 1D materials, and microrobots. Due to increase in the surface-to-volume ratio, adhesion forces play a significant role in micro- and nanorobotic applications. We investigate the quantitative effect of electron beam irradiation on nanoscale adhesive interactions between different end effector types and plain substrates. For this purpose, we use an interferometry-based force measurement setup integrated into the chamber of a scanning electron microscope capable of a subnano Newton force resolution. We provide quantitative results for the influence of the electron beam on the adhesion forces depending on the exposure dose, geometrical configuration in which it is applied, as well as on the material of the end effector. Simulation results, atomic force microscope adhesion measurements, and measurements with piezoresistive cantilevers serve as references. Our findings indicate that the electron beam influences the adhesive interaction not only in the case of insulating probes but also for well-grounded conducting and semiconducting probes. Its influence can range from several 10% to several 100% in comparison to the adhesion values measured with an atomic force microscope in an ambient atmosphere and no charged particle beam is applied. Moreover, it is shown that the influence of a charged particle beam is a multidimensional phenomenon that depends on several factors such as end effector and substrate material, geometry and aspect ratio of the end effector, geometrical configuration between particle beam and probe–sample arrangement, as well as exposure dose and field of view. We provide recommendations for handling and characterization of micro- and nano-objects using end effectors under the influence of charged particle beams: not to rely on adhesion values acquired in different environmental and exposure conditions, not to expect the application of conductive materials and grounding to completely avoid the effect of charged particle beams, and to be aware that charged particle beams can lower or increase the adhesion force in vacuum depending on material properties, among others.

A Brief Review on Nanorobotics Applications in Medicine and Future Prospects

Nanorobotics is the technology of creating machines or robots at or close to the microscopic scale of a nanometer. These devices are ranging in size from 0.1-10 micrometers and constructed of nanoscale. Due to their small size and wide functional properties, nanorobots have created exceptional prospects in medical, biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. The names nanobots, nanoids, nanites or nanomites have also been used to describe these hypothetical devices. Nanorobots are capable of performing task like actuating, sensing, signalling, information processing and intelligence at the nanoscale. Nanotechnology promises futuristic applications such as microscopic robots that assemble other machines or travel inside the body to deliver drugs or do microsurgery. Nanorobots could carry and deliver large amounts of anti-cancer drugs into cancerous cells without harming healthy cells, reducing the side effects related to current therapies like damage of the conventional chemotherapy. They are well used to cure HIV, cancer and other harmful diseases; they can restore lost tissue at the cellular level, useful for monitoring, diagnosing and fighting sickness. A recent discovery in the field of drug delivery is target therapy, which improves the diagnostic tests and medical devices.

Conformational dynamics and mechanical properties of biomimetic RNA, DNA, and RNA-DNA hybrid nanotubes: an atomistic molecular dynamics study.

With the nanotechnology boom, artificially designed nucleic acid nanotubes have aroused interest due to their practical applications in nanorobotics, vaccine design, membrane channels, drug delivery, and force sensing. In this paper, computational study was performed to investigate the structural dynamics and mechanical properties of RNA nanotubes (RNTs), DNA nanotubes (DNTs), and RNA-DNA hybrid nanotubes (RDHNTs). So far, the structural and mechanical properties of RDHNTs have not been examined in experiments or theoretical calculations, and there is limited knowledge regarding these properties for RNTs. Here, the simulations were carried out using the equilibrium molecular dynamics (MD) and steered molecular dynamics (SMD) approaches. Using in-house scripting, we modeled hexagonal nanotubes composed of six double-stranded molecules connected by four-way Holliday junctions. Classical MD analyses were performed on the collected trajectory data to investigate structural properties. Analyses of the microscopic structural parameters of RDHNT indicated a structural transition from the A-form to a conformation between the A- and B-forms, which may be attributable to the increased rigidity of RNA scaffolds compared to DNA staples. Comprehensive research on the elastic mechanical properties was also conducted based on spontaneous thermal fluctuations of nanotubes and employing the equipartition theorem. The Young's modulus of RDHNT (E = 165 MPa) and RNT (E = 144 MPa) was found to be almost the same and nearly half of that found for DNT (E = 325 MPa). Furthermore, the results showed that RNT was more resistant to bending, torsional, and volumetric deformations than DNT and RDHNT. We also used non-equilibrium SMD simulations to acquire comprehensive knowledge of the mechanical response of nanotubes to tensile stress.

NanoRobotic Structures with Embedded Actuation via Ion Induced Folding.

4D structures are tridimensional structures with time-varying abilities that provide high versatility, sophisticated designs, and a broad spectrum of actuation and sensing possibilities. The downsizing of these structures below 100 μm opens up exceptional opportunities for many disciplines, including photonics, acoustics, medicine, and nanorobotics. However, it requires a paradigm shift in manufacturing methods, especially for dynamic structures. A novel fabrication method based on ion-induced folding of planar multilayer structures embedding their actuation is proposed-the planar structures are fabricated in bulk through batch microfabrication techniques. Programmable and accurate bidirectional foldings (-70°-+90°) of Silica/Chromium/Aluminium (SiO2 /Cr/Al) multilayer structures are modeled, experimentally demonstrated then applied to embedded electrothermal actuation of controllable and dynamic 4D nanorobotic structures. The method is used to produce high-performances case-study grippers for nanorobotic applications in confined environments. Once folded, a gripping task at the nano-scale is demonstrated. The proposed fabrication method is suitable for creating small-scale 4D systems for nanorobotics, medical devices, and tunable metamaterials, where rapid folding and enhanced dynamic control are required.

Self-Assembly of DNA Molecules: Towards DNA Nanorobots for Biomedical Applications.

DNA nanotechnology takes DNA molecule out of its biological context to build nanostructures that have entered the realm of robots and thus added a dimension to cyborg and bionic systems. Spurred by spring-like properties of DNA molecule, the assembled nanorobots can be tuned to enable restricted, mechanical motion by deliberate design. DNA nanorobots can be programmed with a combination of several unique features, such as tissue penetration, site-targeting, stimuli responsiveness, and cargo-loading, which makes them ideal candidates as biomedical robots for precision medicine. Even though DNA nanorobots are capable of detecting target molecule and determining cell fate via a variety of DNA-based interactions both in vitro and in vivo, major obstacles remain on the path to real-world applications of DNA nanorobots. Control over nanorobot's stability, cargo loading and release, analyte binding, and dynamic switching both independently and simultaneously represents the most eminent challenge that biomedical DNA nanorobots currently face. Meanwhile, scaling up DNA nanorobots with low-cost under CMC and GMP standards represents other pertinent challenges regarding the clinical translation. Nevertheless, DNA nanorobots will undoubtedly be a powerful toolbox to improve human health once those remained challenges are addressed by using a scalable and cost-efficient method.

Utilization of Nanomaterials in Target Oriented Drug Delivery Vehicles

The present investigation deals with the fundamentals of nanorobots, its fabrication, and possible utilization in a different target-oriented drug delivery vehicles. Details of various types of nanorobots and their specific applications are studied in this research. The use of nanorobots in cancer treatment, target-oriented drug delivery, medical imaging, and in new health sensing devices has also been studied. The mechanism of action of nanorobots for the treatment of cancerous cells as well as the formulation and working functions of some recently studied nanorobots are investigated in this work. This paper reviews the research in finding the suitable nanorobotic materials, different fabrication processes of nanorobots, and the current status of application of nanorobots in biomedical, especially in the treatment of cancers. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have been observed to be used as novel drug delivery vehicle materials. The future perspectives of nanorobots for the utilization in drug delivery are also addressed herewith.

Modelling and structural investigation of a new DNA Origami based flexible bio-nano joint

ABSTRACT Bio-nano joints are important components in nano robotics as they facilitate the possibility of diverse movements of nano robot arms. In this study, a flexible bio-nano joint is designed and constructed through DNA Origami technique. Then, two virtual external forces were applied to the arms of the joint using steered molecular dynamics simulation in order to create the nano joint with the required angle. The designed DNA Origami nano joint must have the required stability in various environmental conditions; for this purpose, equilibrium molecular dynamics simulation of the joint was performed in three temperatures of 300, 310 and 320 K. The results showed that the proposed Bio-nano joint has a favourable stability. To examine the stability of the system quantitatively, the distance between the nano joint arms was thoroughly studied. The results showed that the overall shape of the nano joint is maintained at different temperatures. Also, the bending stiffness and deflection of these nano-joints in the final state were and , respectively, showing good agreement with the previously published researches. The results of this study show that the designed DNA origami-based bio-nano joint has a good potential to be used in nano robotics applications.

Spontaneous deformation of flexible ferromagnetic ribbons induced by Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction

Here, we predict the effect of the spontaneous deformation of a flexible ferromagnetic ribbon induced by Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI). The geometrical form of the deformation is determined both by the type of DMI and by the equilibrium magnetization of the stripe. We found three different geometrical phases, namely (i) the DNA-like deformation with the stripe central line in the form of a helix, (ii) the helicoid deformation with the straight central line and (iii) cylindrical deformation. In the main approximation the magnitude of the DMI-induced deformation is determined by the ratio of the DMI constant and the Young's modulus. It can be effectively controlled by the external magnetic field, what can be utilized for the nanorobotics applications. All analytical calculations are confirmed by numerical simulations.

Nanotechnology and stem cells in vascular biology

Nanotechnology and stem cells are one of the most promising strategies for clinical medicine applications. The article provides an up-to-date view on advances in the field of regenerative and targeted vascular therapies describing a molecular design (propulsion mechanism, composition, target identification) and applications of nanorobots. Stem cell paragraph presents current clinical application of various cell types involved in vascular biology including mesenchymal stem cells, very small embryonic-like stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, mononuclear stem cells, amniotic fluid-derived stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells. A possible bridging between the two fields is also envisioned, where bio-inspired, safe, long-lasting nanorobots can fully target the cellular specific cues and even drive vascular process in a timely manner.

Magnetization-induced shape transformations in flexible ferromagnetic rings

Flexible ferromagnetic rings are spin-chain magnets, in which the magnetic and mechanical subsystems are coupled. The coupling is achieved through the tangentially oriented anisotropy axis. The possibility to operate the mechanics of the nanomagnets by controlling their magnetization is an important issue for the nanorobotics applications. A minimal model for the deformable curved anisotropic Heisenberg ferromagnetic wire is proposed. An equilibrium phase diagram is constructed for the closed loop geometry: (i) A vortex state with vanishing total magnetic moment is typical for relatively large systems; in this case the wire has the form of a regular circle. (ii) A topologically trivial onion state with the planar magnetization distribution is realized in small enough systems; magnetic loop is elliptically deformed. By varying geometrical and elastic parameters a phase transition between the vortex and onion states takes place. The detailed analytical description of the phase diagram is well confirmed by numerical simulations.

Speed and load characterization of actin-myosin nanomotor

Abstract The functioning of any device or system essentially depends on the behaviour of the constituent materials. Nanomaterials due to their excellent mechanical properties are being used presently in almost every field. There exist nature designed nanomaterials functioning in the living systems right from the beginning of life. So, there is a need to study the specific functions being performed by these nanomaterials or nanosystems to understand their behaviour. The Actin-Myosin nanomotors which are responsible for muscle contraction phenomenon in living system have been explored in this research work. The biomechanics of the Actin and Myosin nano-motors have been studied using customized developed Matlab programs. It was observed that steps produced by the nanomotors results in relative speed up to around 5 microns/seconds during invitro motility experiments. It was found that variation in the length of the actin filament does not affect any marginal change on speed. The variation of relative speed with different loads has also been determined and it has been observed that increasing the load from 0.0054 pN to 0.145 pN results in speed reduction from 3.32 µm/s to 1.12 µm/s. The findings can be very useful in drug delivery and nanorobotic applications.

Application of Nanorobotics for Cancer Treatment

Nanorobotics is an emerging field of nanotechnology which deals with design and construction of devices at an atomic, molecules or cellular level. These hypothetical nanorobots will be extremely small and would transverse inside the human blood. As these nanorobots would have special sensors to detect the target molecules, it can be programmed to diagnosis and treat fatal diseases. Application of nanorobots in the treatment of cancer is one of the fascinating fields of research. According to a report by World Health Organisation (WHO), there were 8.2 million deaths in the year 2012 by cancer worldwide. In 2015 there were 11,48,692 cases of cancer in India. The present methods for the treatment of cancer are not that effective as 99% of chemotherapy drugs do not reach the cancer cells. However nanorobots which are roughly 100 times smaller than human tissues could do this and hence creates a huge area for exploration in the field of biomedical research. As scientists predict in coming years cancer will be chronic but manageable disease.

Magnetoelectrics: Hybrid Magnetoelectric Nanowires for Nanorobotic Applications: Fabrication, Magnetoelectric Coupling, and Magnetically Assisted In Vitro Targeted Drug Delivery (Adv. Mater. 8/2017)

A FeGa@P(VDF-TrFE) wire-shaped magnetoelectric nanorobot is designed and fabricated to demonstrate a proof-of concept integrated device, which features wireless locomotion and on-site triggered therapeutics with a single external power source (i.e., a magnetic field), described in article number 1605458 by Salvador Pané and co-workers. The device can be precisely steered toward a targeted location wirelessly by rotating magnetic fields, and can perform on-demand magnetoelectrically assisted drug release to kill cancer cells.

Hybrid Magnetoelectric Nanowires for Nanorobotic Applications: Fabrication, Magnetoelectric Coupling, and Magnetically Assisted In Vitro Targeted Drug Delivery.

An FeGa@P(VDF-TrFE) wire-shaped magnetoelectric nanorobot is designed and fabricated to demonstrate a proof-of-concept integrated device, which features wireless locomotion and on-site triggered therapeutics with a single external power source (i.e., a magnetic field). The device can be precisely steered toward a targeted location wirelessly by rotating magnetic fields and perform on-demand magnetoelectrically assisted drug release to kill cancer cells.