First Microscopic Nanocopters Are Test Flown
By Scientist
Source:
BBC
November 23, 2000
The first microscopic "helicopters", which could one day carry out
medical tasks inside the body, have been built and test-driven by scientists.
With this demonstration, we believe we are defining a whole new technology.
The devices, no bigger than a virus particle, could eventually
move around the human body, ministering to its needs or dispensing drugs.
The metal rotors of the tiny machines are powered by the body's
natural fuel, a chemical called ATP.
When the biomotors were tested in the laboratory, they were able
to drive the helicopters' propellers for up to two-and-a-half hours.
This is an important first step towards producing miniature
machines capable of functioning inside the living cell.
The tiny helicopters consist of three parts: metal propellers and
a biological component attached to a metal post.
'Physiology of life'
When the three components are mixed together, the tiny machines
self-assemble.
The biological material converts the body's biochemical fuel, ATP,
into energy. This is used to turn the propellers at a rate of eight rotations
per second.
A team at Cornell University, Ithaca, US, carried out the work.
Carlo Montemagno who led the team said: "With this demonstration,
we believe we are defining a whole new technology.
"We have shown that hybrid nanodevices can be assembled,
maintained and repaired using the physiology of life."
This is only a first step as the technology is still very
inefficient. Only five of the first 400 biomotors worked. And scientists will
have to show that the machines can function inside the living cell, something
that may take many years to achieve.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1037000/1037730.stm