For the treatment in the near future, nanorobots will be used
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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In modern science fiction, there are often microscopic robots that can perform a task of any complexity, for example, effectively cope with any viral infection, deliver the necessary drugs to cells, etc. Most readers consider this kind of technology to be incredible or to such that can be, but only after a few decades.
However, in one of the research centers in San Diego, a group of specialists were able to create such jobs - nanites that can penetrate into the living organism and deliver drugs to the cells, in addition, these robots have already been successfully tested.
A group of experts from the University of California has proven that artificially created microscopic robots can penetrate the cells of a living organism, and they can be used as transport of drugs without any negative reactions.
As scientists note, small robots are equipped with a molecular engine.
This engine has the shape of small tubes, the length of which is 20 nanometers (1 nanometer is equal to 1 billionth of a meter), and the diameter is 5 micrometers. In each of the robots, experts have enclosed the particles of the medicine. When microrobots hit the human digestive system, the interaction of zinc with gastric juice (hydrochloric acid) begins, as a result, hydrogen begins to be released, as a result, each nanorobot moves at a rate of 60 micrometres per second and leaves the stomach, after which they trigger another programmed mechanism and Microscopic robots are fixed on the walls of the intestine. After this, the process of releasing nanoparticles from drugs that have fallen on the intestinal mucosa begins.
In the plans of the research group to select a new fuel for robots nanites, because the combination of blood and gas bubbles used in the experiment was not effective enough. But, despite this, one can already safely say that in the history of medicine, a significant technological and scientific breakthrough is planned.
In experiments that were conducted on laboratory rodents, scientists found that robots nanites remained attached to the intestinal mucosa for 12 hours, despite prima food.
After the specialists performed an autopsy of the killed animals, they found that the robot nanites did not damage the tissues and mucous membranes. And also did not exceed the level of poisoning infection (microscopic robots are made of zinc, which is the main nutrient for living organisms).
It should be noted that the successful work of researchers from the University of California - this is only the beginning of the creation of technologies that will allow delivering drugs directly to the sick body with the help of microscopic robots. Such technologies can be used in humans in the near future and will be a safe substitute for the traditional methods that are currently used to deliver drugs to diseased organs and tissues.