International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)

ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 3 Issue 2, February - 2014

Nanorobots
Amandeep Kumar, Ramya CB, Surashree Roy
8th Semester, Electronics and Communication,
SJB Institute of Technology,
Bangalore - 560060

Abstract— Nanorobotics is the technology of creating machines applications in the field of science and technology. With the
or robots at or close to the microscopic scale of a nanometer (10-9 assistance of this diverse technology, world is now able to see
meters). More specifically, nanorobotics refers to the still largely and utilize the instruments which were never seen before.
hypothetical Nanotechnology engineering discipline of designing Some of the most famous nanorobotics instruments and
and building nanorobots, devices ranging in size from 0.1-10
applications are as under.
micrometers and constructed of nano-scale or molecular
components. As no artificial non-biological nano-robots have yet • Atomic force microscope
been created, they remain a hypothetical concept. • Nano macro or micro-scale robots
• Nano-machines
• Toxicity detectors
I. INTRODUCTION • Single molecule car
The names nanobots, nanoids, nanites or nanomites have also • Nubots
been used to describe these hypothetical devices. Nanorobots Atomic force microscope Atomic force microscope is an
are nano-devices that will be used for the purpose of instrument which could be considered as nanorobotics
maintaining and protecting the human body against pathogens. instrument. It is configured and manipulated at nano-scale and
Nanorobots might also produce copies of themselves to also used to view the particle of an element or material at the
replace worn-out units, a process called self-replication. A smallest level. In the field of medical sciences atomic scope
major advantage of nano-robots is thought to be their microscope is used to diagnose the cancer and other fatal
durability. In theory, they can remain operational for years, bacteria. Nano macro or micro-scale robots are also the
RT
decades, or centuries. Nano-scale systems can also operate invention of nanorobotics. These robots can move with the
much faster than their larger counterparts because nano-scale precision and can detect and scan the objects and
displacements are smaller; this allows mechanical and obstacles in the way at completely without leaving a single
electrical events to occur in less time at a given speed. particle. Nanotechnology delivered excellent applications such
IJE

as microscopic robots that automatically gather the other

devices or travel inside the human body to transfer drugs or do
microsurgery. These robots are so fast that they can shake the
most viscous fluids just in matter of seconds.

II. NANOROBOTICS
Nanorobotics plays vital role in the development of efficient
robots. It uses nano components and there objects to build the
structure of robots. Its nano nature allows scientists and
engineers to engineer the mimic of human beings. Most
complex parts of robots can be constructed well with the help III. NANO-MACHINES
of nanorobotics. The devices which are created with the help Nano-machines are widely in research these days. Researchers
of nanorobotics is known as hypothetical devices, names such have developed some of the testifying samples; one of the
as nanobots, nanoids, nanites or nano-mites. Nanorobotics examples of these molecular machines is the sensor having
permits robots for precisions and interactions of different capability of counting particular molecule in the chemical
function with nano scale objects, all the robots with nano- compounds. There is no implementary application present in
scaling are operated at nano-scale resolution. Each part and the medical field but these machines if properly developed for
component of a robot from infra-structure chip to external the medical applications, they could greatly help the doctors to
body is configured at atomic scale. Although nanorobotics destroy the cancer cells.
makes structure of the robot complex but it facilitates the
device with extra ordinary intelligence and efficiency.
Instruments used in nano robots. Nanorobotics has incredible

IJERTV3IS21046 www.ijert.org 1725

 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 3 Issue 2, February - 2014

IV. TOXITY DETECTORS traditional idea of nano-robots involves them being all or
Another useful application is the detection of toxic chemicals mostly mechanical, and these types of nanobots are the next
and the measurement of concentrated substances in the step in nanotechnology. There are many scientists and
environment these detectors will be very useful and beneficial research groups currently hard at work on shrinking and
for the chemists in order to manage and reduce the toxicity of adapting the conventional robot and they‘ve gotten them
chemicals Single molecule car. Recently, another pretty small, but not quite down to the nano-scale. The main
demonstration of nanorobotics is the single molecule car problem seems to be the robotic power source for such a tiny
which has nano infra-structure. These cars are developed by machine. Traditionally, most robots have a solar cell or some
chemical process and have buck ball wheels. It is configured kind of battery pack, but obviously these are many times too
by controlling the temperature in the air and also by large for nano-bot. Researchers consider it highly likely that
positioning the scanning tunnel microscope. when equipped with a thin film of radioactive material,
nanobots will be able to fuel themselves on particles released
V. NUBOTS by decaying atoms. This fuel technology is easily scaled down
Scientific field has given new type of robots to the world to nano-size. It also proves immensely efficient because with
which are known as nubots. Nubot is the abbreviation of such a self-driven system in place, nanobots would be able to
―Nucleic Acid Robots‖. These devices are operated at nano- function indefinitely and never require a replacement fuel cell
scale and are highly beneficial for demonstrating the DNA test as they would with batteries or solar power. Silicon has always
and blood cell detection. Capabilities of Nanobots - Since this been the first choice for delicate electronics and has the right
tiny size gives them the ability to interact at the bacteria and qualities to make a successful scaled-down robot, even one as
virus level, nanobots main function will probably be medical. tiny as a few hundred nanometers. It is strong enough to last
They have the potential to revolutionize the medical and conduct electricity on a regular basis, but also flexible
community in almost every way. Nanorobots are so tiny that enough to be manipulated in various ways; this makes it the
they could be easily injected into the bloodstream, where they universal one-size-fits-all electronic material. However,
would then float through the circulatory system in order to constructing nanobots out of silicon would subject them to the
locate and fix problem areas of the body. Nanobots Can same issues that other silicon electronics face, one of which is
Repair Damaged Tissue. The burgeoning field of that they are not biodegradable. If nanobots were to be
nanotechnology has many useful and direct applications for produced on a large scale their enduring materials would not
be as dangerous as all the microchips and computer electronics
RT
the medical industry, and nano-robots are no exception to this
rule. The medical science wants to create nanobots that can currently sitting in our landfills, but they would still be another
repair damaged tissue without pain and trauma. Many of the small drain on our natural resources. Silicon can be recycled
medical procedures employ today are very traumatic to the into low-grade products like solar cells, but the process is
IJE

human body and do not work in harmony with our natural long, complicated and usually costly. One of the issues
systems. Chemotherapy wreaks havoc on humans and nearly associated with the final creation of the nano-bot is autonomy.
kills them in the quest to kill off their malignant cancer cells. A suggested alternative to silicon components is installing a
Invasive surgical procedures are also quite common today, system whereby small clusters of molecules react to forces in
with associated traumas that cause many patients to die on the their environment, convert these reactions into power, and use
operating table rather than survive and heal. Nanorobots are so the resulting energy in order to move themselves forward.
small that they actually interact on the same level as bacteria Hard oxides and metals that are typically used for electronics
and viruses do and so they are capable of building with the will be essential, but many of them (including silicon) have to
very particles of our bodies- atoms and molecules. be effectively reduced to the nano-scale before any serious
work can go forward. Prototypes have been built using
VI. NANOBOTS ARE MADE OUT OF ? biological components, but the ultimate goal is to achieve a
purely electromechanical model.
Nanotechnology as a whole is fairly simple to understand, but
developing this universal technology into a nano-robot has VII. FUTURE EFFECTS OF NANOTECH ON
been slightly more complicated. Many of the nano-bot HEALTH CARE
prototypes function quite well in certain respects but are
mostly or partly biological in nature, whereas the ultimate goal • Creation of cell-repair-machines
and quintessential definition of a nano-robot is to have the • Early-disease-detection
microscopic entity made entirely out of electromechanical • Treating cancer cells without damaging the cells
components. In fact, researchers anticipate that due to the • Brain Aneurysm
complicated nature of their construction, nanobots will only • Treating arteriosclerosis
fully emerge after several generations of partly biological • Breaking up blood clots and helping the body clot
nano-bot forerunners have been constructed in order to make • Fighting cancer
them. Nanorobots are essentially an adapted machine version
of bacteria. They are designed to function on the same scale as VIII. CREATION OF CELL-REPAIR-MACHINES
both bacteria and common viruses in order to interact with and
repel them from the human system. Biological nanobots have Present-day nano-scale manufacturing techniques leading to
technically been created, as have large or conventionally-sized bacteria sized mechanizations that could tell one cell from
robots with the ability to work on the nano-scale. But the another by touch, repair DNA within a cell, and even are

IJERTV3IS21046 www.ijert.org 1726

 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 3 Issue 2, February - 2014

directed by computers to complete multiple missions in the Shirinzadeh from Monash University, and Toshio Fukuda and
same body. The possibility of actual nano-scale robots would Seiichi Ikeda from Nagoya University, had to select an
completely change medicine. Made from carbon for its approach to developing nano-robots for common use in
strength, such robots would have to be no larger than 3 medicine. Instead, the team chose a nano-integrated circuit
nanometers at their largest dimension, so they can fit through version that uses hybrid materials, photonics, and wireless
capillaries and other passage ways of the human body critical communication for manufacturing and control. Then they
for their transportation and use. Such robots could be injected identified and applied the following three key required pieces
into the body, controlled by ―nano-computers‖, and monitored to advance the development and implementation of medical
by MRI. Early-disease-detection Nano devices could soon test nanorobotics, according to the paper published by The
for ailments on a cellular level via sensor testing chips holding International Journal of Robotics Research.
thousands of ―nanowires‖. These little devices would be able
to detect proteins and other biomarkers left by cancer cells. As
a result, they could help detect such diseases in their early
stage. All from a few drops of the blood.

IX. TREATING CANCER WITHOUT DAMAGING CELLS

RT
Treating cancer without damaging cells - Treating cancer
these days often means subjecting one‘s entire body to XI. CREATING NANO-ROBOTS
chemotherapy and the toxic wake it leaves behind. At between
1. Equipment prototyping:
IJE

10 and 100 nano-meters, specialized nanoparticles could

―cook‖ cancer cells with the help of radio waves or lasers, or Computational nanotechnology provides a key tool for the fast
do away with tumors by dropping folic acid ―lures‖ directly and effective development of nano-robots, helping in the
into cancer cells, leaving adjacent healthy cells undamaged. investigation to address major aspects on medical
instrumentation and device prototyping.
2. The manufacturing technology:
For manufacturing purposes, the nano-robot should be
integrated as a biochip device.
3. Inside-body transduction:
Cell morphology, microbiology, and proteomics are used as
parameters for nano-robot morphology and inside-body
interaction. Changes on chemical gradients and telemetric
instrumentation are used for medical prognosis, with the nano-
robots activation based on proteomic overexpression.

XII. TREATING ARTERIOSCLEROSIS

X. NANOROBOT FOR BRAIN ANEURYSM Arteriosclerosis refers to a condition where plaque builds
along the walls of arteries. Nanorobots could conceivably treat
The idea of nano-robots floating throughout our arteries to
the condition by cutting away the plaque, which would then
fight diseases and deliver drugs is migrating from science
enter the bloodstream. Nanorobots may treat conditions like
fiction to medical fact, at least in virtual 3D simulations. arteriosclerosis by physically chipping away the plaque along
Nanorobotics pioneer Adriano Cavalcanti and his colleagues artery walls. Breaking up blood clots and Helping the body
report progress with their Nano-robot Control Design (NCD)
clot: Blood clots can cause complications ranging from muscle
software which helps them simulate the behavior of future
death to a stroke. Nanorobots could travel to a clot and break it
nano-robots. The team released a new paper that proposes a
up. This application is one of the most dangerous uses for
model for how a nano-robot should help with the early nano-robots the robot must be able to remove the blockage
detection of cerebral aneurysm. without losing small pieces in the bloodstream, which could
First the research team, which includes the Center for then travel elsewhere in the body and cause more problems.
Automation in Nano-biotech (CAN) along with Bijan
The robot must also be small enough so that it do One

IJERTV3IS21046 www.ijert.org 1727

 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 3 Issue 2, February - 2014

particular kind of nano-robot is the clottocyte, or artificial cures for such ailments like cancer, diabetes, and other life
platelet. The clottocyte carries a small mesh net that dissolves threatening diseases.
into a sticky membrane upon contact with blood plasma.
According to Robert A. Freitas, Jr., the man who designed the XV. DISADVANYAGES OF NANOTECHNOLOGY
clottocyte, clotting could be up to 1,000 times faster than the
body‘s natural clotting mechanism [source: FreitaS].. Doctors • Included in the list of disadvantages of this science and its
could use clottocytes to treat haemophiliacs or patients with development is the possible loss of jobs in the traditional
serious open wounds doesn‘t block the flow of blood itself farming and manufacturing industry.
• The development of nanotechnology can also bring about
the crash of certain markets due to the lowering of the value of
oil and diamonds due to the possibility of developing
alternative sources of energy that are more efficient and won‘t
require the use of fossil fuels.
• Atomic weapons can now be more accessible and made to be
more powerful and more destructive. These can also become
more accessible with nanotechnology.
• Since these particles are very small, problems can actually
arise from the inhalation of these minute particles, much like
the problems a person gets from inhaling minute asbestos
particles.
• Presently, nanotechnology is very expensive and developing
it can cost you a lot of money. It is also pretty difficult to
manufacture, which is probably why products made with
XIII. FIGHTING CANCER nanotechnology are more expensive.

Doctors hope to use nano-robots to treat cancer patients. The XVI. APPLICATIONS USING NANOROBOTS
robots could either attack tumors directly using lasers,
microwaves or ultrasonic signals or they could be part of a Some possible applications using nano-robots are as follows:
RT
chemotherapy treatment, levering medication directly to the ฀ To cure skin diseases, a cream containing nano-robots may
cancer site. Doctors believe that by delivering small but be used. It could remove the right amount of dead skin,
precise doses of medication to the patient, side effects will be remove excess oils, add missing oils, apply the right amounts
IJE

minimized without a loss in the medication‘s effectiveness. of natural moisturizing compounds, and even achieve the
elusive goal of ‗deep pore cleaning‘ by actually reaching down
XIV. ADVANTAGES OF NANOTECHNOLOGY into pores and cleaning them out. The cream could be a smart
material with smooth-on, peel-off convenience.
• Nanotechnology can actually revolutionize a lot of electronic ฀ A mouthwash full of smart nano-machines could identify
products, procedures, and applications. The areas that benefit and destroy pathogenic bacteria while allowing the harmless
from the continued development of nanotechnology when it flora of the mouth to flourish in a healthy ecosystem. Further,
comes to electronic products include nano transistors, nano the devices would identify particles of food, plaque, or tartar,
diodes, OLED, plasma displays, quantum computers, and and lift them from teeth to be rinsed away. Being suspended in
many more. liquid and able to swim about, devices would be able to reach
• Nanotechnology can also benefit the energy sector. The surfaces beyond reach of toothbrush bristles or the fibers of
development of more effective energy-producing, energy- floss. As short-lifetime medical nano-devices, they could be
absorbing, and energy storage products in smaller and more built to last only a few minutes in the body before falling apart
efficient devices is possible with this technology. Such items into materials of the sort found in foods (such as fiber).
like batteries, fuel cells, and solar cells can be built smaller but ฀ Medical nano-devices could augment the immune system
can be made to be more effective with this technology. by finding and disabling unwanted bacteria and viruses. When
• Another industry that can benefit from nanotechnology is the an invader is identified, it can be punctured, letting its contents
manufacturing sector that will need materials like nanotubes, spill out and ending its effectiveness. If the contents were
aerogels, nano particles, and other similar items to produce known to be hazardous by themselves, then the immune
their products with. These materials are often stronger, more machine could hold on to it long enough to dismantle it more
durable, and lighter than those that are not produced with the completely.
help of nanotechnology.
• In the medical world, nanotechnology is also seen as a boon XVII. CONCLUSION
since these can help with creating what is called smart drugs.
These help cure people faster and without the side effects that Nanorobots are nano-devices that will be used for the purpose
other traditional drugs have. You will also find that the of maintaining and protecting the human body against
research of nanotechnology in medicine is now focusing on pathogens. Noteworthy, this development was the result of a
areas like tissue regeneration, bone repair, immunity and even highly collaborative effort and a synthesis of several advanced
technologies: ―The current study establishes proteomics, nano-

IJERTV3IS21046 www.ijert.org 1728

 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 3 Issue 2, February - 2014

bioelectronics, and electromagnetics as the basis to advance 16. Reppesgaard L., ―Nanobiotechnologie: Diefeinmechaniker
medical nanorobotics.‖ ―The nano-machine platform design der zukunft nutzen niomaterial alswerkstoff‖, Computer
was based on clinical data, proteomic signals, cell Zeitung, no. 36, pp. 22, Sep. 2002.
morphology, and numerical analysis. For the proposed model, 17. Requicha A.A.G., ―Nanorobots, NEMS and
Nanoassembly‖, Proceedings of the IEEE, 91(11):1922-
the nano-robots were able to recognize chemical gradient 1933, Nov. 2003.
changes in the bloodstream, retrieving information about the 18. Stefanadis, C., Diamantopoulos, L., Dernellis J., Economou
position inside the vessel as intracranial aneurysm detection. E., Tsiamis E., Toutouzas K., Vlachopoulos C., and
An important and interesting aspect in the current Toutouzas P., ―Heat Production of Atherosclerotic Plaques
development is the fact that this platform, presented in terms and Inflammation Assessed by the Acute Phase Proteins in
of device prototyping and system architecture integration, can Acute Coronary Syndromes‖, J Mol Cell Cardiol, 32(1):43-
also be useful for a broad range of applications in medicine.‖ 52, Jan. 2000.
19. Stefanadis C., Toutouzas K., Tsiamis E., Stratos C.,
Vavuranakis M., Kallikazaros I., Panagiotakos D., and
Toutouzas P., ―Increased Local Temperature in Human
REFERENCES Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaques: An Independent
Predictor of Clinical Outcome in Patients Undergoing a
1. Adleman L.M., ―On Constructing A Molecular Computer‖, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention‖, J Am Coll Cardiol,
DNA Based Computers II: Dimacs Workshop, Jun. 10-12, 37(5):1277-1283, Apr. 2001.
1996 (Dimacs Series in Discrete Mathematics and 20. Stracke R., Böhm K. J., Burgold J., Schacht H. and Unger
Theoretical Computer Science, V. 44), American E., ―Physical and Technical Parameters Determining the
Mathematical Society, 1996, pages 1-21. Functioning of a Kinesin-Based Cell- Free Motor System‖,
2. Buchanan J.R. and Kleinstreuer C., ―Simulation of Particle- Nanotechnology, 11(2):52-56, Jun. 2000.
Hemodynamics in a Partially Occluded Artery Segment 21. Sun J., Gao M. and Feldmann J., ―Electric Field Directed
With Implications to the Initiation of Microemboli and Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Highly Fluorescent CdTe
Secondary Stenoses‖, Journal of Biomechanical Nanoparticles‖, Journal of Nanoscience and
Engineering, 120(4):446-454, Aug. 1998. Nanotechnology, 1(2):133-136, Jun. 2001.
3. Casal A., Hogg T. and Cavalcanti A., ―Nanorobots 22. Wieland III C.F. et al., ―Is the US Nanotechnology
asCellular Assistants in Inflammatory Responses‖, in Proc. Investment Paying Off?‖, Small Times Magazine, 4(1):IP1-
IEEE BCATS Biomedical Computation at Stanford 2003 IP3, Jan./Feb. 2004.
Symposium, IEEE Computer Society, Stanford CA, USA, 23. Yamamoto H., Uemura S., Tomoda Y., Fujimoto S.,
RT
Oct. 2003. Hashimoto T., and Okuchi K., ―Transcardiac Gradient of
4. Cavalcanti A., ―Assembly Automation with Evolutionary Soluble Adhesion Molecules Predicts Progression of
Nanorobots and Sensor-Based Control Applied to Coronary Artery Disease‖, International Journal of
Nanomedicine‖, IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology, Cardiology, 84(2-3):249-257, Aug. 2002.
IJE

2(2):82-87, Jun. 2003. 24. Xu C. and Wootton D.M., ―Platelet Near-Wall Excess in
5. Cavalcanti A. and Freitas Jr. R.A., ―Autonomous Multi- Porcine Whole Blood in Artery-Sized Tubes Under Steady
Robot Sensor-Based Cooperation for Nanomedicine‖, Int’l and Pulsatile Flow Conditions‖, Biorheology 41(2):113-
J. Nonlinear Science Numerical Simulation, 3(4):743-746, 125, Apr. 2004.
Aug. 2002. 25. L. Zhang, J.J. Abbott, L.X. Dong, B.E. Kratochvil, D.J.
6. Cavalcanti A., Freitas Jr. R.A., Kretly L.C., ―Nanorobotics Bell, D.J. and B.J. Nelson, "Artificial bacterial flagella:
Control Design: A Practical Approach Tutorial‖, In Proc. Fabrication and magnetic control," Applied Physics Letters,
ASME 28th Biennial Mechanisms and Robotics vol. 94, February 2009. | [26]. L. Zhang, J. J. Abbott, L. X.
Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, Sep. 2004, Dong, K. E. Peyer, B. E. Kratochvil, H. X. Zhang, C.
http://www.nanorobotdesign.com. Bergeles, B. J. Nelson, "Characterizing the Swimming
7. Drexler K.E., “Nanosystems: molecular machinery, Properties of Artificial Bacterial Flagella", Nano Letters,
manufacturing, and computation”, Wiley & Sons, 1992. Vol. 9, No. 10, October 2009, pp. 3663-3667. |
8. Fishbine G., ―The investor’s guide to nanotechnology & 26. J. J. Abbott, K. E. Peyer, M. C. Lagomarsino, L. Zhang, L.
micromachines‖, Wiley & Sons, 2001. X. Dong, I. K. Kaliakatsos, B. J. Nelson, "How Should
9. FLUENT, Fluent Inc., http://www.fluent.com. Microrobots Swim?" International Journal of Robotics
10. Freitas Jr. R.A., “Nanomedicine, Vol. I: Basic Research, July 2009.
Capabilities”, Landes Bioscience, 1999. 27. Bijan Shirinzadeh from Monash University, and Toshio
11. Geppert L., ―The Amazing Vanishing Transistor Act‖, Fukuda and Seiichi Ikeda from Nagoya University.
IEEE Spectrum Magazine, 39(10):28-33, Oct. 2002. 28. Fisher, B. (2008). "Biological Research in the Evolution of
12. Hagiya M., ―From Molecular Computing to Molecular Cancer Surgery: A PersonalPerspective". Cancer Research
Programming‖, in Proc. 6th DIMACS Workshop on DNA 68 (24): 10007–10020
Based Computers, Leiden, The Netherlands, Jun. 2000, 29. K. Vollmers, D. R. Frutiger, B. E. Kratochvil, B. J. Nelson,
pages 198-204. "Wireless resonant magnetic microactuator for untethered
13. Ito T. and Ikeda U., ―Inflammatory cytokines and mobile
cardiovascular disease‖, Current Drug Targets - microrobots", Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 92, No. 14,
Inflammation and Allergy, 2(3):257-265, Sep. 2003. 2008. | 5. Wang, J. (2009). "Can Man-Made Nanomachines
14. Moore S.K., ―Just One Word - Plastics‖, IEEE Compete with Nature Biomotors?". ACS Nano (1): 4–9.
SpectrumMagazine, 39(9):55, Sep. 2002. 30. K. B. Yesin, K. Vollmers and B.J. Nelson, "Modeling and
15. National science foundation website, control of untethered biomicrorobots in a fluidic
http://www.eng.nsf.gov/sbir. environment using electromagnetic fields," International
Journal of Robotics Research, vol. 25, pp. 527-536, 2006.

IJERTV3IS21046 www.ijert.org 1729