Nanobots

Janus particles possess two or more distinct domains that are anisotropic in composition or surface features. They integrate different or even incompatible properties within a single particle, making them possible to perform diverse functions and multiple tasks simultaneously. Advances in micro/nanorobots demonstrate that they can effectively convert diverse energy sources into movement and reach target locations with precision. Integration of Janus structure with micro/nanobots is emerging as a promising tool for biomedical applications...

The late Nobel Physicist Richard P. Feynman, in a dinner talk in 1959, very rightly said that there is enough room for the betterment of technology beyond our scope of imagination, proposing utilizing mechanical tools to make those that are relatively smaller than the others, which further can be rendered fruitful in making even more compact mechanical devices, all the way down to the level of the smallest known atom, emphasizing that this is "a progress which I believe cannot be avoided". Feynman proposed that nanomachines, nanorobots, and nanodevices may eventually be utilized to construct a huge range of atomically accurate microscopic instruments and manufacturing equipment, as well as a large number of ultra-small devices and other nanoscale and microscale robotic structures...

Manipulation and targeted navigation of nanobots in complex biological conditions can be achieved by chemical reactions, by applying external forces, and via motile cells. Several studies have applied fuel-based and fuel-free propulsion mechanisms for nanobots movements in environmental sciences and robotics. However, their applications in biomedical sciences are still in the budding phase. Therefore, the current review introduces the fundamentals of different propulsion strategies based on the advantageous features of applied nanomaterials or cellular components...

With the advancement and development of nanomedicine, tumor precision therapy provides technical support for effective accumulation and targeted drug delivery, and reduces toxic side effects. In cancer cells, breaking the redox balance could induce cancer cell death. Herein, a novel iron-containing intelligent hydrogel nanobot (FeSe2 -Ce6/MOF@HA/PEI/CpG@HHPA NPs, abbreviated as FSMH) is proposed to break the intracellular redox balance and trigger the immune response. The as-fabricated multifunctional FSMH could not only exert Fenton reactions in the acidic tumor microenvironment, converting hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) into highly toxic hydroxyl radicals (˙OH), but also effectively consume GSH to attenuate the intracellular oxidative stress...

Cancer overlooks are globally one of the most dangerous and life-threatening tribulations. While significant advances have been made in the targeted delivery of anti-cancer medications over the last few years, several challenges, such as low efficacy and strong toxic effects, remain to be addressed. Micro/nanomotors have been thoroughly studied for both effective cancer detection and treatment, as demonstrated by significant advancements in the architecture of smart and functional micro/nanomotor biomedical systems...

Millions of root canal treatments fail worldwide due to remnant bacteria deep in the dentinal tubules located within the dentine tissue of human teeth. The complex and narrow geometry of the tubules renders current techniques relying on passive diffusion of antibacterial agents ineffective. Here, the potential of actively maneuvered nanobots is investigated to disinfect dentinal tubules, which can be incorporated during a standard root canal procedure. It is demonstrated that magnetically driven nanobots can reach the depths of the tubules not possible with current clinical practices...

Cancer is one of the most lethal diseases of the twenty-first century. Many medicines, including antitumor antibiotics, are used to deliver tedious and severe chemotherapy and radiation treatment, both of which have significant side effects. DNA nanorobots, as an alternative, might be used as a cancer treatment method that is both safer and more precise than current treatments. DNA nanobots are being praised as a major milestone in medical research. The major goal of these nanobots is to find and destroy malignant cells in the human body...

As a typical, classical, but powerful biochemical sensing technology in analytical chemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) shows excellence and wide practicability for quantifying analytes of ultralow concentration. However, long incubation time and burdensome laborious multistep washing processes make it inefficient and labor-intensive for conventional ELISA. Here, we propose rod-like magnetically driven nanorobots (MNRs) for use as maneuverable immunoassay probes that facilitate a strategy for an automated and highly efficient ELISA analysis, termed nanorobots enabled ELISA (nR-ELISA)...

This paper provides a discourse based upon the key development of nursing in response to the emerging 4Ds of health technology re-design. Building informatics capability among health professionals is a workforce issue necessitated through the increasing prevalence of information technology and digitization of healthcare affecting the entire health workforce, specifically front-line nurses. The key concepts will be explored of Digitization, Distribution, Disruption and Diversity, a framework recognising the tsunami of technology such as Big Data analytics, comprehensive decision support systems for nursing, nanobots, robotics, and pharmacogenomics and the impact these have upon the nursing workforce...

Enzyme catalysis to power micro/nanomotors has received tremendous attention because of the vast potential in applications ranging from biomedicine to environmental remediation. However, the current design is mainly based on a complex three-dimensional (3D) architecture, with limited accessible surface areas for the catalytic sites, and thus requires a higher fuel concentration to achieve active motion. Herein we report for the first time an enzyme-powered 2D nanobot, which was designed by a facile strategy based on soft nanoarchitectonics for active motion at an ultralow fuel concentration (0...

Biodegradable precursors for micro/nanobots development are key requirements for several sustainable applications. In this regard, we propose an innovative solution for water purification at minimum cost and efforts where organic waste is used for the treatment of organic pollutants. Herein, catalytic magnetic microbots were developed by functionalizing iron oxide nanoparticles with carbon dots (C-Dots), which were synthesized by using household waste such as potato peels as precursors. The speed of these autonomously propelling bots indeed is found very promising for large distance swimming even in viscous medium by using hydrogen peroxide as fuel...

Catalytically powered micro/nanobots (MNBs) can perform active movement by harnessing energy from in situ chemical reactions and show tremendous potential in biomedical applications. However, the development of imageable MNBs that are driven by bioavailable fuels and possess multiple therapeutic functions remains challenging. To resolve such issues, we herein propose enzyme (urease) powered liquid metal (LM) nanobots that are naturally of multiple therapeutic functions and imaging signals. The main body of the nanobot is composed of a biocompatible LM nanoparticle encapsulated by polydopamine (PDA)...

Advances in synthetic biology, nanotechnology, and genetic engineering are allowing parallel advances in areas such as drug delivery and rapid diagnostics. Although our current visions of nanobots may be far off, a generation of nanobots synthesized by engineering viruses is approaching. Such tools can be used to solve complex problems where current methods do not meet current demands. Assuring safe drinking water is crucial for minimizing the spread of waterborne illnesses. Although extremely low levels of fecal contamination in drinking water are sufficient to cause a public health risk, it remains challenging to rapidly detect Escherichia coli , the standard fecal indicator organism...

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a prime focus for clinicians to maintain the homeostatic function in health and deliver the theranostics in brain cancer and number of neurological diseases. The structural hierarchy and in situ biochemical signaling of BBB neurovascular unit have been primary targets to recapitulate into the in vitro modules. The microengineered perfusion systems and development in 3D cellular and organoid culture have given a major thrust to BBB research for neuropharmacology. In this review, we focus on revisiting the nanoparticles based bimolecular engineering to enable them to maneuver, control, target, and deliver the theranostic payloads across cellular BBB as nanorobots or nanobots...

The use of robotics in the life science sector has created a considerable and significant impact on a wide range of research areas, including enzyme technology due to their immense applications in enzyme and microbial engineering as an indispensable tool in high-throughput screening applications. Scientists are experiencing the advanced applications of various biological robots (nanobots), fabricated based on bottom-up or top-down approaches for making nanotechnology scaffolds. Nanobots and enzyme-powered nanomotors are particularly attractive because they are self-propelled vehicles, which consume biocompatible fuels...

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causes diseases ranging from skin infections to lethal sepsis and has become a serious threat to human health due to multiple-drug resistance (MDR). Therefore, a resistance-free antibacterial therapy is necessary to overcome MDR MRSA infections. In this study, an antibacterial nanorobot (Ab-nanobot) is developed wherein a cell wall-binding domain (CBD)-endolysin, acting as a sensor, is covalently conjugated with an actuator consisting of an iron oxide/silica core-shell...

High-efficiency, safe and economically viable nano-engineered platforms for oil spill cleanup and recovery are of great importance. This review takes account of the concept of nanomotors and micromotors and their most advancements in use for oil spill treatment. The fundamental facets of artificial micro- and nano-machines/nanobots/nanomotors (MNMs) are first documented, followed by the most recent influencing developments in chemical engineering approaches toward their specific utilizations. The surface chemistry of these MNMs, their behaviors in different water matrices and their roles in the removal of oil are examined, revealing great rooms for improvement...

Autonomously propelled micro/nanobots are one of the most advanced and integrated structures which have been fascinated researchers owing to its exceptional property that enables them to be carried out user-defined tasks more precisely even on an atomic scale. The unique architecture and engineering aspects of these manmade tiny devices make them viable options for widespread biomedical applications. Moreover, recent development in this line of interest demonstrated that micro/nanobots would be very promising for the water treatment as these can efficiently absorb or degrade the toxic chemicals from the polluted water based on their tunable surface chemistry...

Robots are increasingly assisting humans in performing various tasks. Like special agents with elite skills, they can venture to distant locations and adverse environments, such as the deep sea and outer space. Micro/nanobots can also act as intrabody agents for healthcare applications. Self-healing materials that can autonomously perform repair functions are useful to address the unpredictability of the environment and the increasing drive toward the autonomous operation. Having self-healable robotic materials can potentially reduce costs, electronic wastes, and improve a robot endowed with such materials longevity...

Self-propelling magnetic nanorobots capable of intrinsic-navigation in biological fluids with enhanced pharmacokinetics and deeper tissue penetration implicates promising strategy in targeted cancer therapy. Here, multi-component magnetic nanobot designed by chemically conjugating magnetic Fe3 O4 nanoparticles (NPs), anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecule antibody (anti-EpCAM mAb) to multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) loaded with an anticancer drug, doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) is reported. Autonomous propulsion of the nanobots and their external magnetic guidance is enabled by enriching Fe3 O4 NPs with dual catalytic-magnetic functionality...