Click Buttons For
Information |
Our Vision
|
Schematic
|
Our
Prototype |
N.R.
|
We made the Nano
Snippit-Bot and each attached item out of clay. Each different colored ball represents a different type of atom. We made the brain tumor out of clay and the blood vessels out of twisted pipe cleaners. See the schematic below for more information about the NSB's parts. |
Brain
Tumor |
In 20 years when someone has a brain tumor, they will not have to get surgery and
have their head cut open to remove it. People will simply go to the doctor and the doctor will give them a pill. Not a regular pill, but a pill with thousands of Nano Snippit-Bots (NSBs) in them. When you swallow the pill, the pill covering dissolves, and the Nano-Snippit-Bots emerge. The thousands of NSBs travel through the blood stream towards the brain and locate the tumor(s). Utilizing the "snippit" or scissor-like capability, the NSBs cut off the blood supply to the brain tumor. At the time it snips, it will cauterize, or seal, the blood vessels. Next it will spray a chemical to prevent future growth of blood vessels. Without blood, the tumor will shrink and die. |
NSBs need a detection system to distinguish between cell types and locate the
tumor(s). We could use chemotactic sensors. They would be keyed to look for specific known antigens of the target cells. |
We need to develop the capability to send broadcast type messages into the body to
be received by the in vivo NSBs. It is important to use molecular carbon atoms to view NSBs' in vivo progress using an MRI. We need to ensure NSBs find the brain tumor. |
NSBs could be made using carbon nanotubes with a scanning tunneling microscope;
organically; or by self assembly. Gold claws collect ions, which shrink or swell, causing joints to move and snip. NSBs are coated in polymer so they will be accepted by the body. |
The NSBs will be powered by metabolizing local glucose and oxygen for energy.
Another possibility is externally supplied acoustic power, which might work best in a clinical setting. |
Installed in the body of the NSB, the navigational network would give positional
accuracy, allowing us to locate the NSBs in the human body. We would need to have an in vivo communications network. |
The outer layer is made of zinc, benzyne, carbon, and gold atoms. Zinc turns the NSBs on and off; carbon atoms can be seen in an MRI; and gold does not react with the body. Also, the NSBs are covered in polymer, so the white blood cells would not attack them. |