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Nano Fish - a new word in medicine
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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A new invention by Californian specialists can change the idea of medicine. Scientists have created an unusual device – a nanofish, which is 100 times smaller than a grain of sand. The nanorobot is capable of delivering medications to various parts of the body; by the way, the scientists were inspired to create such a robot by the movements of ordinary fish.
The materials used to make the nanofish were gold (head and tail), nickel (body) and silver (hinges for connecting all parts of the nanorobot). The robot's movement is provided by electromagnetic oscillations that affect the nickel parts, and the speed and direction are provided by the frequency and orientation of the magnetic field.
According to the developers, the nanofish could be useful in non-invasive treatment methods and would allow working with individual cells of the body.
By the way, nanofish is not the first robot of this kind created for transporting drugs in the human body. Other specialists have created a robot in the form of a bacterial tail, but the efficiency of the driving force is undoubtedly greater in nanofish. But scientists do not yet know how to remove the metal nanorobot from the body after it has performed its functions. Now the developers are trying to create a biodegradable version of the nanofish.
The idea to create a nanorobot in the form of a fish belongs to Jingxin Li and his colleagues from the University of California. Now scientists are considering the possibility of using nanofish for medical purposes. According to Professor Li, the device is suitable for the introduction of drugs, manipulation of single cells, and low-trauma procedures. External magnets guiding the nanorobot will help deliver the drug to a specific part of the body. Scientists from other research centers noted that the idea of creating a robot in the form of a fish is amazing. Justin Gooding from the Australian University noted that his colleagues have done hard work, based on the body's transport system, moving particles to specific areas of the body.
It is worth noting that scientists have only recently begun studying active transportation means, and existing research shows that particles for active movement can be made smaller and faster.
Other research centers are also developing nanorobots to deliver drugs directly to diseased areas. Most scientists use screw-type propellers (like those found on bacteria tails), but experiments have shown that the pulsating movements of nanofish are more effective.
Pinpoint delivery of drugs to affected organs or body parts, which can be provided by nanorobots, will solve a number of problems: act exclusively on diseased cells, avoid the use of drugs with complex action. According to scientists, the only way to act pinpoint is to use nanorobots - special devices that are controlled by external sources (ultrasonic waves, magnetic fields, etc.) and carry drugs to their destination.
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