NANOROBOTIC CELLS

Ongoing developments in molecular fabrication,

computation, sensors and motors will enable the manufacturing of nanorobots - nanoscale biomolecular machine systems. The present work constitutes a novel simulation approach, intended to be a platform for the design and research of nanorobots control. The simulation approach involves a combined and multi-scale view of the scenario. Fluid dynamics numerical simulation is used to construct the nanorobotic environment, and an additional simulation models nanorobot sensing, control and behavior.

The study for developing nanorobotics control design deals with many of the challenging problems in biomedical applications. The problem I Considered here is mainly focused on nanomedicine ,where the biomedical interventions and manipulations are automatically performed by nanorobots. While these nanorobots cannot be fabricated yet, theoretical and simulation studies defining design strategies, capabilities and limitations, will supply better comprehension of nanorobots behavior and the nanoworld . Studies targeted at building biosensors and nano-kinetic devices , required to enable nanorobotics operation and locomotion, have been advancing recently as well. A first generation of nanorobots is likely to emerge within the next five to ten years .

PROPOSED DESIGN:

Nanorobot manufacturing will undoubtedly require development of breakthrough technologies in fabrication,computation, sensing and manipulation. Researching the requirements, anticipated behavior and performance, and design of control strategies will require simulation tools which will both model foreseeable nanoscale technologies. Two simulations are used to achieve the most faithful modeling of nanorobots behavior in a real physical context. These simulations (NCD for the micro level, CFD for the macro level) are described in the next paragraphs.

The nanorobot design is comprised of components such as molecular sorting rotors and a robot arm (telescoping manipulator), derived from biological models. The nanorobot exterior shape consists of a diamondoid material, to which may be attached an artificial glycocalyx surface that minimizes fibrinogen (and other blood proteins) adsorption and bioactivity, ensuring sufficient biocompatibility to avoid immune system attack. The nanorobot kinematics can be predicted using state equations, positional constraints, inverse kinematics and dynamics, while some individual directional component performance can be simulated using control system models of transient and steady-state response. Plane surfaces and bi-directional propellers provide navigation, while two simultaneously counter-rotating screw drives provide the propulsion ,enabling motion with six degrees of freedom. The nanorobots may use a macrotransponder navigational system for their positioning, which will allow high positional accuracy, independent of nanorobot orientation . Such a system could involve externally generated signals from beacons placed at fixed positions outside the skin. The nanorobots satisfy their energy requirements via the chemical reaction of oxygen and glucose , both of which are plentiful in the human body.

The Nanorobot Control Design (NCD) simulator, is used for the 3D investigation of a stenosed left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery, in which the activating trigger for medical nanorobots is optimized. This trigger will turn the nanomachine “on”, switching it from “seek mode” to “repair mode”. It may also cause other close nanorobots switch to a “higher awareness mode”. Once we have previous knowledge about the general localization of the stenosis (in large, small or microvessels), we may inject the appropriate nanorobot type, which is pre-programmed to be activated only at the pre-specified target region.The NCD simulator consists of several modules that simulate the physical conditions, run the nanorobot control programs determining their actions, provide a visual display of the environment in 3D, and record the history of nanorobot behaviors for later analysis. The NCD simulation enables the nanorobot control programs to be tested using various strategies, e.g. based on neural network control,motion with low energy consumption, or any different predefined motion strategy. The virtual environment in the NCD simulator is inhabited by plasma, red blood cells, nanorobots, different molecules whose concentrations are being monitored, and the blood vessel(shown in figure below)

 

View of the NCD simulator workspace showing the vessel wall, red blood cells and the nanorobots.

As the nanorobot should perform a pre-defined task in a specific target area, the trigger must be activated when the nanorobot is as close as possible to the target. Taking advantage of the fact that the nanorobots flow mostly in a near-wall region, where the blood flow velocity profile dictates significantly lower velocities, such rapid activation could result in lower demand of energy (Fig. below).

Vein inside view without the red bloodcells. The target plaque is represented by the pink spheres surrounding

the vessel wall. The nanorobots swim in a near-wall region.

What kind of robot will be the nanomedical device?

• It must be mobile and have powerful navigation system.

• It may have a wide range of sensors to navigate through human body and to fast molecular and cell identification.

• It may have powerful transport subsystem to molecular deliver system (it must deliver molecules and atoms to the working nanomanipulators from storage systems).

• Wide range of computer-guided nanomanipulators also required.

• It may be manufactured from flawless diamondoid due to biocompability with human body.

• It may have broadcasting system which can connect to other nanorobots and to macrocomputers.

• Finally, it may have long telescopic manipulators to holding cells or surfaces.

Diamondoid cell-repair nanorobot

Nanomedicine offers the prospect of powerful new tools for the treatment of human diseases and the augmentation of human biological systems. Diamondoid-based medical nanorobotics may offer substantial improvements in capabilities over natural biological systems, exceeding even the improvements possible via tissue engineering and biotechnology. So design, shown above, looks not so unrealistic. Of course, future medical nanorobots will be another shape, but all main systems will be the same. Maybe, some sort of this nanorobots will provide cell surgery and extreme life prolongation. Here is nanomedicine-related image, which can explain how nanorobot works in human body.

Nanorobots in bloodstream

MEDICAL NANOROBOTIC APPLICATIONS

Applications of nanorobots are expected to provide remarkable possibilities. Some applications of nanorobotic cells are listed below:

1. An interesting utilization of nanorobots may be their attachment to transmigrating

inflammatory cells or white blood cells, to reach inflamed tissues and assist in their healing process .

2. Nanorobots will be applied in chemotherapy to combat cancer through precise chemical dosage administration, and a similar approach could be taken to enable nanorobots to deliver anti-HIV drugs. Such drug-delivery nanorobots have been termed “pharmacytes” by Freitas .

3. Nanorobots could be used to process specific chemical reactions in the human body as ancillary devices for injured organs. Monitoring and controlling nutrient concentrations in the human body including glucose levels in diabetic patients will be a possible application of medical nanorobots.

4. Nanorobots might be used to seek and break kidney stones.

5. Another important possible feature of medical nanorobots will be the capability to locate atherosclerotic lesions in stenosed blood vessels, particularly in the coronary circulation, and treat them either mechanically, chemically or pharmacologically